Britons freed in prisoner deal with Russia return home to families
The Guardian|September 23, 2022
The five Britons released from Russia were back home and reunited with their families yesterday after months of captivity in which it was feared they would be executed for fighting for Ukraine.
Dan Sabbagh
Britons freed in prisoner deal with Russia return home to families

Aiden Aslin, 28, returned to his family home near Newark and thanked Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and "everybody else that was involved in our release" as he entered the house.

Aslin said he had had "a traumatic experience," having been under threat of execution since a controversial trial in June, where he was sentenced to death in breach of international humanitarian law. He added that he would speak further about his experience in due course.

"When I'm ready to talk to the media, I'll talk to the media," he said.

Shaun Pinner, released alongside Aslin, was pictured with his family in a hotel room this morning by his mother, Debbie Price, who thanked "all the amazing people" who had helped to secure his release.

Later, his family said Pinner and his close relatives had endured "a harrowing time", which "has now had such a happy resolution". They added: "Shaun is in good spirits and still has his sense of humour intact. He is looking forward to steak and a glass of red wine tonight."

This story is from the September 23, 2022 edition of The Guardian.

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This story is from the September 23, 2022 edition of The Guardian.

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