Pro-Russian separatists 'preparing execution site' of captured Britons in Ukraine

Pro-Russian separatists from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic have said they are "preparing a place for the execution" of Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner who were captured fighting in Ukraine

Shaun Pinner (l) and Aiden Aslin (r) were sentenced to death by the Donetsk People's Republic

Pro-Russian separatist groups in eastern Ukraine said they were "preparing a place for the execution" of two Britons on death row.

Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner, who were fighting with the Ukrainian army, were defending the city of Mariupol when they were captured by Vladimir Putin's forces in April.

They, along with another defendant, Moroccan Brahim Saadoun, were convicted last month after what Western politicians described as a show trial by pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk People's Republic.< /p>

A statement from officials in the separatist region of Ukraine reportedly said they were "preparing a place for their execution", which would be carried out by firing squad and without any prior warning.

DPR spokesman Denys Pushilin added: "Everything is ready. It won't be public."

Mr Aslin's family said he was fighting for the Ukrainian army

The separatist state also defended its right to impose the death penalty.

DPR Foreign Minister Natalia Nikonorova said the two Britons had been sentenced to death for fighting as "mercenaries" when asked if the death penalty would harm the bid territory to be recognized internationally.

"We consider that mercenary activity is indeed a terrible crime because people, for a reward, come to another country to kill other people, although they have no personal purpose related to the conflict in question," she said.

"Yes, this is the most severe penalty, but it is in our legislation and it is not related to the further process of recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic by other states."

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The calls of MM. Aslin and Pinner are pending after they were sentenced to death.