The family of a British man captured while fighting in Ukraine claim the “propaganda” video released by Russian state TV breaches the Geneva Convention.
Aiden Aslin, 28 , joined the Ukrainian marines in 2018 and had been fighting with his unit in the besieged southeastern city of Mariupol.
But Mr Aslin and the rest of his troops were forced to surrender to the Russian earlier this week after running out of food and ammunition.
Mr Aslin featured alongside fellow captured Brit Shaun Pinner featured on Rossiya 24, asking for Prime Minister Boris Johnson for them to be swapped for pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk.
Aiden Aslin
RUSSIAN STATE TV CHANNEL ROSSIYA
Mr Aslin was previously pictured in handcuffs
Twitter
This came just days after images were released of Mr Aslin handcuffed and with visible cuts to his face.
And now, relatives of Mr Aslin have denounced claims that the 28-year-old is a “volunteer, a mercenary, or a spy”.
In a statement issued through their MP Robert Jenrick, who represents Newark in Nottinghamshire, the captive’s family said: “In 2018 Aiden moved to Ukraine where he met his girlfriend and eventually settled down in Mykolaiv.
“Aiden decided to join the Ukrainian marines and has served in his unit for nearly four years.
“He is not, contrary to the Kremlin’s propaganda, a volunteer, a mercenary, or a spy. Aiden was making plans for his future outside the military, but like all Ukrainians, his life was turned upside down by Putin’s barbarous invasion.
“He has played his part in defending Ukraine’s right to self-determination. The video of Aiden speaking under duress and having clearly suffered physical injuries is deeply distressing.
“Using images and videos of prisoners of war is in contravention of the Geneva Convention and must stop.
“Together with the family of Shaun Pinner (the second Britain captured in Mariupol), we are in contact with the Foreign Office to ensure the Russian authorities meet their obligations to prisoners of war under international law, and ultimately to secure the release of Aiden and Shaun.
“Aiden is a much-loved young man with a strong network of friends around him and a loving wife-to-be. In this difficult time, we urge you to respect the privacy of our family.”