US concerned by reports of charges against captured foreigners in ‘DPR’

The United States has expressed concern over reports of preparations for the trial of five captured foreigners in the so-called "Donetsk People’s Republic".

“We are concerned by reports of British, Swedish & Croatian nationals being charged by illegitimate authorities in eastern Ukraine. Russia and its proxies have an obligation to respect international humanitarian law, including the rights & protections afforded to prisoners of war,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken posted on Twitter.

The day before, the "DPR" said that Matias Gustavsson of Sweden, Vjekoslav Prebeg of Croatia, and Britons John Harding, Andrew Hill, and Dylan Healy would face trial behind closed doors on August 15. If found guilty, the men may face the death penalty.

On June 9, Britons Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner and Moroccan national Saaudun Brahim, who participated in hostilities as part of the Ukrainian army, were "sentenced" to death by the "DPR".

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called the "judicial process" against foreigners null and void.

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