The trial of two British and one Moroccan mercenaries who surrendered to Russian forces on March 12 in Mariupol began yesterday. The prosecutor demanded the death penalty for British citizens Sean Pinner and Aiden Aslin, as well as Moroccan citizen Saadun Brahim, on charges of “seizing power by force, engaging in terrorist activities, and destroying the country.”

It was stated that after the mercenaries’ sentences were read to them, they could appeal the sentence within one month. The defendants have stated that they will appeal the verdict.

Britain had previously stated that it would make efforts to protect the soldiers in the event that they were sentenced to death.