Aiden Aslin
British soldier Aiden Aslin has been forced to sign the Russian national anthem in an apparent propaganda video.
The Brit, who was captured while fighting while fighting against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has been shown seemingly being forced to sing the tune in another flagrant breach of the Geneva Conventions' rules on treatment of prisoners of war.
In the disturbing clip which the Daily Star has chosen not to show, Aiden appears to be thin and pale but otherwise uninjured - despite the presence of a vicious-looking club on the table in front of him.
Comment: This is hilarious! They've 'chosen not to show' the full clip because it exposes their reporting as being complete propaganda! Watch the video (below) and see for yourself if it looks like he's being 'forced.' First of all, he offers to sing it. He's also smiling during the whole lead up. Here's the clip:
A burly Russian jailer stands next to the Nottinghamshire 28-year-old as he belts out the anthem.
Comment: Hilarious! That "burly Russian jailer" is American former-Marine John Mark Dougan who is there interviewing Aslin.
Former care worker Aiden was captured by Russian forces in the besieged city of Mariupol in April. He joined the Ukrainian army in 2018 after marrying a Ukrainian woman and moving to the country.
Despite that, Aiden's been accused of being a "mercenary" by the Russian authorities and has been threatened with the death penalty alongside another Brit, Shaun Pinner, 48.
In an emotional phone call with his family he said little was being done for him by the Foreign Office and "time is running out".
Aiden's grandmother Pamela Hall told the BBC: "There are no words, just no words, it's got to be everyone's worst nightmare to have a member of your family threatened in this way.
"Aiden was extremely upset when he called his mother this morning.
"The bottom line is Aiden has said the DPR has told him nobody from the UK has made contact, and that he will be executed.
"I have to believe what Aiden has said to us, that if the DPR don't get some response then they will execute him. Obviously, I hope that isn't true."
Moroccan Saaudun Brahim, 21, has also been sentenced to death by the same court.
DPR spokesman Denys Pushilin, an official for the pro-Russian Donetsk People's Republic [DPR], said that preparation for the execution was well advanced: "Everything is ready," he said, adding "it won't be public".
Meanwhile, British aid worker Paul Urey, 45, has died while being held hostage by pro-Russian separatists in the DPR, which has unilaterally declared independence from Ukraine but isn't recognised by the UK.
According to DPR spokesperson Daria Morozova, he died on July 10 as a result of "illness and stress".
Paul had been arrested by Russian troops at a checkpoint in southern Ukraine with fellow Brit Dylan Healy.
The pair were later charged with "mercenary activities".
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss summoned the Russian ambassador, Andrei Kelin, earlier today (Friday, July 15) to express her "deep concern" over reports of Paul's death.
The UK government has demanded the safe treatment of the remaining British prisoners in accordance with the Geneva Convention and there are hopes a prisoner swap could be arranged.
Perhaps the Russians consider it if they bring the Tsar's gold to the table. But even then, I would check each individual bullion.