Two British fighters who were captured by Russian forces while fighting for Ukraine have been sentenced to death by pro-Moscow rebels, according to Russia state media.
Aiden Aslin, 28 and Shaun Pinner, 48, were found guilty of taking action towards violent seizure of power at a court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic.
A third man, Moroccan national Saaudun Brahim, was convicted alongside them.
Aiden Aslin
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The men were accused of being “mercenaries” after fighting with Ukrainian troops.
Russian media outlet RIA Novosti reported on Thursday that the three are set to face a firing squad.
Interfax, another Russian news agency, claimed the men would be able to appeal against their convictions.
Downing Street said the Government is “deeply concerned” by the reports.
A No 10 spokesman said: “We are obviously deeply concerned by this. We have said continually that prisoners of war shouldn’t be exploited for political purposes.
Mr Aslin's family said earlier this week they were working on getting him home
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“You will know that under the Geneva Convention prisoners of war are entitled to combatant immunity and they should not be prosecuted for participation in hostilities.
“So we will continue to work with the Ukrainian authorities to try to secure the release of any British nationals who were serving in the Ukrainian armed forces and who are being held as prisoners of war.”
The family of Mr Aslin had said they are working with the Foreign Office and Ukrainian government to get him home.
On Tuesday, Mr Aslin’s family said in the statement: “We, the family of Aiden Aslin, wish to ask for privacy at this time from the media.
“This is a very sensitive and emotional time for our family, and we would like to say thank you to all that have supported us.
“We are currently working with the Ukrainian government and the Foreign Office to try and bring Aiden home.
"Aiden is a much-loved man and very much missed, and we hope that he will be released very soon.”