LONDON, June 11. /TASS/. The family of Shaun Pinner, who was sentenced to death by court in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), is hopeful for his release, according to the statement released by relatives of the 48-year-old British citizen, who was fighting for the Ukrainian armed forces in Donbass.
"As a Ukrainian resident for over four years and contracted serving Marine in the 36th Brigade, of which he is very proud, Shaun should be accorded all the rights of a prisoner of war according to the Geneva conventions and including full independent legal representation," says the statement of Pinner’s family released via the Foreign Office.
"We sincerely hope that all parties will cooperate urgently to ensure the safe release or exchange of Shaun," it reads.
On Thursday, a court in the DPR handed capital punishment verdicts to two British nationals, Shaun Pinner (48) and Aiden Aslin (28), as well as Moroccan Brahim Saadoun, for participating in the combat actions in Ukraine as mercenaries. They were captured in Donbass while fighting for Ukraine.
The DPR’s Prosecutor General’s Office earlier said that testimony obtained from Pinner, Aslin and Saadoun proved their involvement in crimes such as forcible seizure of power and mercenary activities. The convicts are eligible for a pardon, and they can appeal against the court decision within a month, the judge said.