Briton Dies In Detention, Secretary Of State For Foreign Affairs: He's A Mercenary And Doesn't Enjoy Prisoner-of-war Status, No Official Request London

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives Natalia Nikonorova. (Wikimedia Commons/Galina MIDIA)

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Natalia Nikonorova said the British citizen Paul Urey who died was a mercenary, so he could not enjoy prisoner-of-war status as provided for in the Geneva Conventions.

"It looks like mercenary activities, i.e. he is unlikely to be seconded by official British authorities. So, he is a mercenary and that means he is a man, who, under the Geneva conventions, in particular under additional protocol, does not enjoy combatant status. Therefore Therefore, he cannot be a prisoner of war, i.e. he cannot enjoy this status," Nikonorova explained in an interview with the Rossiya-24 television channel, reported by TASS July 16.

"He should be punished under the national law, namely the law of the Donetsk People's Republic under which he was arrested by the warring party he fought against."

Moreover, according to Nikonorova, Urey is not just a mercenary, but "a man who recruits and trains mercenaries."

"But despite such serious crimes, he was provided with medical assistance because we are committed to international principles and norms, including in relation to those on trial," he said.

According to Nikonorova, Urey died of heart failure. "He died of heart failure with complications of pulmonary edema and brain swelling, this is the official information," he said, adding that a forensic examination was carried out after his death.

He also said that Urey had undergone a medical examination and his diagnosis had been confirmed. "She received all the necessary medical support, but sadly passed away on July 10," said Nikonorova.

"As for official requests about these mercenaries, so far none from the UK," he said.

Separately, the House human rights Ombudswoman Darya Morozova previously said that a British mercenary Paul Urey died of chronic illness and depression in captivity in the House on July 10. The diagnoses included type 1 diabetes, disorders of the respiratory and renal systems, and cardiovascular disease. In addition, he fell into depression due to the British indifference to his fate. Medical assistance was provided to him.

Morozova also said British authorities, international organizations and foreign media had been notified of Urey's imprisonment but there had been no reaction from them.