Convinced That The DPR Will Listen To London's Call For Two Citizens Sentenced To Death, The Kremlin Says Britain Has Not Contacted Moscow

Juru bicara Kremlin Dmitry Peskov. (Wikimedia Commons/Press Service of the President of Russia)

JAKARTA - The Kremlin says it is confident that the leader of the Russia-backed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in the Donbas, will be willing to listen to calls from Britain for two of its citizens sentenced to death for fighting for Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters at the conference London had not contacted Moscow about the matter.

A court in the breakaway Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in eastern Ukraine last week sentenced Britons Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner to death as well as Moroccan Brahim Saadoun, saying they were guilty of mercenary activities.

The family denied that the three were mercenaries, contracted by the Armed Forces to fight against Russia.

The UK has so far refused publicly to raise the issue with authorities in the House of Representatives.

The territory, which remains largely under Ukrainian control, is recognized internationally as part of Ukraine, except by Russia, which considers it an independent state. Dealing directly with the DPR leadership might be considered a de facto confession.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said earlier on Tuesday the best route to securing the release of Aslin and Pinner was via Ukraine, but she would do whatever was necessary.

London called the death penalty a "false judgment" and said the process was similar to trials of Soviet-era shows.

Meanwhile, authorities in the DPR said the people had one month to appeal. Their lawyers say they will and Kyiv has promised to try to secure their release through a prisoner swap with Russia.