Viktor Medvedchuk, leader of the Opposition Platform – For Life political party, attends a court hearing in Kyiv, Ukraine, May 13, 2021. REUTERS / Serhii Nuzhnenko
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April 18 (Reuters) – Two British fighters captured in Ukraine by Russian forces appeared on Russian state television on Monday and demanded to be exchanged for a pro-Russian politician detained by Ukrainian authorities.
It was not clear how freely the two men, Sean Piner and Aiden Aslin, could speak. Both spoke separately after being invited by an unidentified man. The footage was broadcast on state television Russia 24.
The two men asked British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to help bring them home in exchange for Ukraine’s release of pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, which was shown in a video released at about the same time Monday by Ukraine’s SBU intelligence service. to be exchanged.
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Medvedchuk, in his appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, demanded that he be exchanged with defenders of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol and all civilians allowed to leave.
Both Piner and Aslin fought on the Ukrainian side in Mariupol, which is now almost entirely under Russian control.
The unidentified man, shown on Russian state television, was seen showing the two Britons a video on his mobile phone in which Medvedchuk’s wife, Oksana, called for her husband to be replaced by the two British nationals over the weekend.
Three days after Russia moved troops to Ukraine on February 24, Ukraine said Medvedchuk had escaped from house arrest. He was placed under house arrest in May 2021 and charged with treason and later aiding terrorism.
The pro-Russian figure, who says Putin is his daughter’s godfather, has denied any wrongdoing.
“I understand the situation,” said Piner, who looked tired and nervous after being shown the video.
“I would like to ask the government to take me home, I would like to see my wife again,” he said.
Piner appealed directly to Johnson on his own behalf and on behalf of Aslin.
“We expect to exchange ourselves and Aiden Aslin for Mr Medvedchuk. Obviously, I would really appreciate your help on this,” he said, saying he spoke little Russian and was treated well.
The unidentified man was then shown talking to Aslin, who was sitting in a chair wearing a T-shirt with the emblem of the far-right Ukrainian Azov Battalion.
“I think Boris needs to hear what Oksana (Medvedchuk’s wife) said,” said Aslin, who also looked nervous.
“If Boris Johnson is really interested in British citizens, as he says he is, then he will help.
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