Moroccan sentenced to death in Donetsk for fighting as a “mercenary” for Ukraine appeals his sentence

July 1 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The lawyer of a Moroccan citizen sentenced to death after his capture in eastern Ukraine for acting as an alleged “mercenary” on the side of the Ukrainian forces has filed an appeal against his sentence, days after the defense of a Briton did the same sentenced with him.

“Yes, I have filed (an appeal),” Sadun Brahim’s lawyer, Elena Vesnina, told the Russian news agency TASS. Sean Pinner’s lawyer, Yulia Tserkovnikova, appealed on Wednesday, while Aidan Aslin’s lawyer, also British, is preparing the appeal.

The Supreme Court of the self-proclaimed republic of Donetsk sentenced these three people to death on June 9 for participating as mercenaries of the Ukrainian Army. Pinner and Aslin were arrested in mid-April in Mariupol, while Brahim was killed in an operation by Russian forces on March 12 in Volnovakha.

According to Russian authorities, nearly 7,000 foreigners from more than 60 countries have joined Ukrainian forces to participate in the conflict since it began in late February, more than four months ago.