The UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Friday condemned the death sentence handed down to three foreign fighters in Ukraine by a court in the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic.”
That’s according to the UN press service, Ukrinform reports.
“Such trials against prisoners of war amount to a war crime,” said OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.
“OHCHR is concerned about the so-called Supreme Court of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic sentencing three servicemen to death. According to the chief command of Ukraine, all the men were part of the Ukrainian armed forces and if that is the case, they should not be considered as mercenaries,” the official said.
Answering a question at the regular briefing in New York on Thursday about the death sentences handed down, the UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, said the Organization always has – “and we always will” – opposed the death penalty under any circumstances.
“And we would call on the combatants who have been detained, to be afforded international protection, and to be treated according to the Geneva Conventions,” he added.
As reported earlier, the three men – Britons Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner, and Moroccan Saaudun Brahim – were captured while fighting for Ukraine, reportedly defending the southern port city of Mariupol.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decried the sham trial as null and void.
Source: Death sentence for Ukraine foreign fighters “war crime,” UN says
