A Briton who was threatened with execution after being captured by Russian forces during the Mariupol siege has been freed along with nine international prisoners after Saudi Arabia intervened.
Aiden Aslin and “the other British prisoners of war held by the Russian authorities” were already on their way back to the UK, said Aslin’s MP Robert Jenrick, who were first transferred from Russia to Saudi Arabia.
“Aiden’s return ends months of agonizing uncertainty for Aiden’s loving family in Newark, who suffered daily from Aiden’s trial, but never lost hope,” Jenrick added.
Aslin was forced to surrender with his comrades in April after they ran out of food and ammunition as the Russians approached Mariupol. He had moved to Ukraine in 2018 and joined its army some time before the war.
Liz Truss, the prime minister, said five Britons held by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine had been released. He expressed relief that “they were returning safely, ending months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families.”
Two Americans were also among those released: Alexander Drueke and Andy Tai Huynh, both US Army veterans who had volunteered to fight from Alabama. Drueke’s mother spoke with him for about 10 minutes and said he appeared to be in good condition, the Washington Post reported.
The names of the others were not initially confirmed but include a total of five Britons, the Foreign Office said. The Saudi foreign ministry said the others were nationals of Morocco, Sweden and Croatia, as well as the United Kingdom and the United States, who had been released following the intervention of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Aslin, originally from Newark, and Shaun Pinner, from Watford, and a Moroccan, Saadun Brahim, were sentenced to death on charges of “terrorism” by a court in Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine in June, in a conviction by Truss, then the Foreign Secretary, as “a sham trial”.
All three were tried despite being active duty soldiers and were photographed behind bars during the proceedings, much of which were held in private. The Geneva Conventions state that prisoners of war on all sides should not be prosecuted for their direct participation in hostilities, even though they were convicted on the charge of “being mercenaries”.
At the time, Aslin’s grandmother Pamela Hall said the family was exceptionally distraught over her situation: “There are no words, just no words. It must be everyone’s worst nightmare to have a limb of your family threatened in this way.
Aslin was also filmed in captivity by Russian television after being captured with a swollen eyelid and a bruised forehead, also a violation of conventions. His family described the images as “propaganda” and called on Vladimir Putin to “treat him humanely”.
In a video filmed in February just before the war began, Aslin said he “originally wanted to be a policeman” but went overseas to fight. The Briton fought for Syria’s Kurdish YPG against Islamic State between 2015 and 2017 before moving to Ukraine a year later.
At the time of the film, Aslin said he didn’t want to “sit here and complain about everything, but go do something about it,” and acknowledged that a war with Russia could mean that “many of us we will die.” , get serious”.
James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, said he welcomed “the safe return of Ukrainian prisoners of war and one civilian, including five Britons”. It ended many months of uncertainty and suffering, including the threat of the death penalty, for them and their families at the hands of Russia.
A statement from the Saudi foreign ministry said: “The relevant Saudi authorities received and transferred them from Russia to the kingdom and are facilitating the procedures for their respective countries.”