Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to the Russian authorities on the prosecution of Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner.

The UK Government continues to work with the Ukrainian authorities on the cases of British Nationals held by Russian proxies in eastern Ukraine and is fully supportive of their efforts to secure the release of Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner.  We have raised concerns with the Russian authorities about British detainees and reminded them of their obligations under International Humanitarian Law, including that detainees should not be exploited for political purposes. We continue to do everything we can to support these men and their families, alongside other British Nationals detained by Russian proxies in eastern Ukraine.