Russia takes distance from death sentences ordered by DPR court

Moscow, Jun 10 (EFE).- Russia distanced itself on Friday from the death sentences ordered by a court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) of two Britons and a Moroccan who were captured while fighting for Ukraine.

“At the moment, all processes underway are based on the laws of the Donetsk People’s Republic, since the crimes in question were committed on the territory of the DPR,” Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said.

“Everything else is a matter of speculation. I wouldn’t intervene in the work of the DPR’s judicial system,” the diplomat added.

The three foreigners were found guilty on Wednesday of “mercenary activities and committing actions aimed at seizing power and overthrowing the constitutional order of the DPR,” the Interfax agency reported.

Shaun Pinner, Aiden Aslin and Brahim Saadoun admitted to having committed actions aimed at seizing power but not to taking part in mercenary activities.

Meanwhile, British prime minister Boris Johnson said Friday that he was “appalled” by the death sentences handed to the three men and ordered his cabinet members to do “everything in their power” to release them.

“The prime minister was appalled at the sentencing of these men. He has been following the case closely and has asked ministers to do everything in their power to try and reunite them with their families as soon as we can,” a Downing Street spokesperson said.

“We completely condemn the sham sentencing of these men to death. There’s no justification at all for this breach of the protection they’re entitled to,” they added. EFE

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