By Captured British fighters appear on Russian state TV
Two British fighters captured by Moscow’s forces in Ukraine have appeared on Russian state TV and asked to be exchanged for pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk.
It was unclear in the video from reports, how clear Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin were able to convey their message.
Both spoke separately after being supervised by an unidentified man in footage broadcast on the Rossiya 24 state TV channel.
The two men asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson to help bring them home in exchange for oligarch Mr. Medvedchuk, who was detained by Ukrainian forces.
The Foreign Office is in contact with the families of Mr. Pinner and Mr. Aslin and is supporting them.
The families of both men have said the British nationals are not mercenary soldiers or volunteers and should therefore be treated by the Geneva Convention.
The captured politician is the leader of the Opposition Platform and is an ally of Putin.
It was unclear how freely the captured politician was speaking in the video.
Mr. Medvedchuk said he was making a “plea for the Ukrainian side to exchange me for the defenders of Mariupol and its citizens who are there today have no opportunity for a safe exit through a humanitarian corridor”.
Mr. Medvedchuk escaped a few days after the Russian invasion began in February, but was later captured by Ukraine.
