Aiden Aslin, a 28-year-old British national who was detained by Russian police and charged with “mercenary operations,” has been freed.
A Russian stand-in court executed Mr. Aslin for participating in hostilities in Ukraine after he was apprehended in Mariupol in April.
Mr Aslin’s local MP, Robert Jenrick, tweeted: “Aiden’s return brings to an end months of agonizing uncertainty for Aiden’s loving family in Newark who suffered every day of Aiden’s sham trial but never lost hope. As they are united as a family once more, they can finally be at peace”.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly welcomed the return of the prisoners of war and said it “brings to an end many months of uncertainty and suffering, including the threat of the death penalty, for them and their families, at the hands of Russia”.
He added: “Tragically that was not the case for one of those detained and our thoughts remain with the family of Paul Urey”.
Mr Urey died in July after he was charged with committing “mercenary activities” in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine.
Russia claims he died due to “illnesses” and “stress”.
Earlier this month Ukraine’s foreign minister said Russia had returned his body which showed “signs of possible unspeakable torture”.