Russian state television broadcast two videos this Monday prisonersdefined as a citizen English Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin caught fighting UkraineI’m asking the prime minister Boris Johnson agree release.
Two men want to be traded Viktor Medvedchuk, a wealthy Ukrainian businessman close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was arrested in Ukraine. They do not specify who is currently holding them, whether it is Russian forces or their separatist allies in the region. Donetskin eastern Ukraine.
Two recordings are presented as an interview with journalist Andrei Rudenko from Russian state television (VGTRK).
The reporter showed the two men a video released last week by Medvedchuk’s wife, Oksana Marchenko, asking her husband to be exchanged with two Britons. Next, the detainees request an exchange in English. The place where they were taken into custody was not specified.
According to Russian media, both were captured after clashing with Ukrainian forces. Mariupol. They belong to a unit that surrendered to Russian forces last week.
Recording of Medvedchuk
The Security Services of Ukraine released a recording in which Medvedchuk urged Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to trade with him. Residents of the city of MariupolIt has been under siege by Russian troops for weeks.
“I would like to address Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin with a proposal to exchange me for defenders and residents of Mariupol who have no safe access and are blocked from humanitarian corridors,” the video says. .
Medvedchuk was arrested a few days ago for allegedly trying to flee to Russia after being under house arrest for more than a year. betrayal. His wife, Oksana Marchenko, denounced that she would be tortured to learn about Russia’s plans.
Last week, 154 assets were seized. His arrest was celebrated by President Zelensky on social networks, where he shared a photo of the opposition politician appearing in handcuffs. Kyiv has confirmed that he is wearing Ukrainian military clothing to try to hide.
Shaun Pinner’s family said they were working with London, along with relatives of Aiden Aslin, who was “detained by the Russian Army”, the British Foreign Office said in a statement. the rights of prisoners of war are respected according to the Geneva Convention”.
Family of Shaun Pinner he is “neither volunteer nor mercenary”but a person who officially serves in the Ukrainian Army under Ukrainian law.” Part of the Navy.
According to the text, in 2018 he settled in his “adopted country” Ukraine for four years and married a Ukrainian.
The family adds that he served “for many years” with the United Nations in the Royal Anglian Regiment, an infantry regiment of the British Army, particularly in Northern Ireland and Bosnia.