DPR may not execute British mercenaries

The Britons, who were taken captive in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) may not be executed after it was decided that the relevant provision in the Criminal Code would come into force only after 2025. The authorities will thus have an opportunity to weigh all pros and cons and decide whether to execute or pardon the Brits, Sergei Tsekov, a member of the Federation Council said.

On July 1, the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) adopted the Penitentiary Code. Death penalty provisions of the code will come into effect in 2.5 years. According to the Penitentiary Code, the capital punishment provisions will come into force from January 1, 2025.

"I think this is a very reasonable step that will make it possible to carefully weigh everything and make a decision on whether to execute or pardon,” Tsekov told lenta.ru publication. "We understand that hostilities will continue for a long time, many people will be captured, the vast majority of them will be sentenced to death, but the DPR takes time to think about this decision," the senator said.

Many things may change during two and a half years, the senator said. For example, the DPR and the LPR may become part of Russia, and Russia has a moratorium on death penalty.

"One must understand that serious discussions about the death penalty are underway in Russia. Besides, the decision to execute is a double-edged one. If we decide to execute the prisoners, the Ukrainian side may make the same decision in relation to our military. In any case, now the Brits have a chance. This is a rather soft policy, in contrast to the stupid policy of the West,” the politician emphasized.

On June 9, the DPR Supreme Court sentenced 48-year-old Briton Shaun Pinner, his 28-year-old compatriot Aiden Aslin and 21-year-old Moroccan Saadoun Brahim to death. They were found guilty of mercenarism and forcible seizure of power.