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A30 world news
Diamars 28 Juni 2022

No sign of reprieve for 3 condemned by Ukraine separatists

of a legitimate military. But The UK, like all other coun- vengeful and contemptuous
their advocates claim they tries except Russia, does not of international rule of law.
were enlisted in Ukraine's recognize the DPR as a sov-
regular army. ereign state. Russia has said it Is this an escalation?
would consider an appeal of Russia and Belarus are the
Are their executions like- the sentences; it is not clear only European countries to
ly? if Britain has contacted Mos- retain the death penalty. Rus-
Denis Pushilin, president of cow about the case. Saadoun's sia has not carried out an ex-
the separatist government, family has called on Russian ecution since 1996, and later
appears firmly determined to President Vladimir Putin for declared a moratorium on
see through the sentence. help, but it's unclear if there applying capital punishment.
"I certainly have the right to have been formal contacts. Ukraine itself abolished the
pardon. But as of now I see death penalty in 2000, three
none of the prerequisites to What are the implica- years after conducting its last
exercise this right," he told tions? execution. Latvia retained the
(AP) — Less than two out, possibly in early July, it reporters at Russia's St. Pe- Russia's willingness to con- death penalty for wartime
weeks remain for two likely would increase ani- tersburg International Eco- sider an appeal underlines crimes until 2012.
Britons and a Moroccan mosity between the sides in nomic Forum. "Those people its influence in the separat-
to appeal the death sen- the Ukraine conflict. who came for money to kill ist governments in Donetsk Belarus recently made its
tences imposed by sepa- the civilian population — and in the neighboring Lu- stance more severe by add-
ratist forces that captured Here's a look at the case and women children, the elderly hansk region, although they ing "attempted terrorism" as
them during fighting in its potential consequences: — must bear the appropriate are viewed as sovereign by a capital crime — meaning it
eastern Ukraine. Who are the condemned punishment." Moscow. could be applied to exiled op-
men? Russian foreign ministry Applying the death sentence position leaders such as Svi-
With no obvious progress, or A court in the DPR on June spokeswoman Maria Zakha- only to foreigners emphasiz- atlana Tsikhanouskaya.
even signs of official contacts, 9 sentenced Britons Aiden rova also strongly supported es the frequent contention of
the likelihood is growing that Aslin and Shaun Pinner, and the sentences at the same the Kremlin and the separat- It is unknown how the DPR
the men will be shot by firing Moroccan Brahim Saadoun, forum, saying: "These are ists that Ukraine is in thrall to intends to conduct the execu-
squad, a conspicuous move to death by firing squad after crimes against the Donbas ci- Western countries and other tions — whether in front of a
even in a corner of Europe convicting them of terrorism vilian population. War crimes outside forces that they claim few witnesses, open to gen-
that has resisted the wave of and trying to overturn con- by Ukrainian national radi- are determined to weaken eral public view or in secret.
abolishing capital punish- stitutional order. They were cals and foreign mercenaries both Russia as a country and Belarus' procedure is notori-
ment. allotted one month to appeal will not go unpunished." the greater concept of a na- ously callous — no execution
the sentences. tion that encompasses all date is announced and the
The sentences handed down The court claimed they were A lawyer for Aslin said the Russian speakers. prisoner is informed of his
by the Donetsk People's Re- fighting as mercenaries, Briton is pessimistic about imminent death only about
public brought wide con- which would exempt them his prospects, and that British In turn, death sentences im- two minutes before being
demnation from abroad but from protections observed authorities have not contact- posed by an unrecognized shot in the back of the head,
were supported by Russian for prisoners of war who ed the DPR about an appeal. state harden Western views according to reports.
officials; if they are carried were fighting as members of Russia and its clients as

Credit Suisse fined for facilitating cocaine cash laundering

(AP) — A Swiss court on tion's ability to protect that fall of communism, "turned The proceeds from the drug year of challenges" marked
Monday said it has fined $19 million from control of towards other sources of in- sales, often in small denomi- by bad bets on a hedge fund,
Credit Suisse more than the courts was also found come, and numerous wres- nation notes, entered Swiss set asides for legal costs and
$2 million for failing to guilty, though the former em- tlers received approaches bank accounts from 2004 to accounting changes due to its
prevent money launder- ployee's fine and 20-month from mafia clans." One un- at least 2007 and were used acquisition of a U.S. invest-
ing linked to a Bulgarian sentence were suspended. identified wrestler aimed to to buy real estate in Bulgaria ment bank over 20 years ago.
criminal organization a cash in by trafficking tons and Switzerland.
decade-and-a-half ago. Prosecutors said the un- of cocaine through "mules" The bank launched a new
named former bank em- from South America to Eu- In February, Credit Suisse re- strategy late last year after a
The court also ordered the ployee had helped to execute rope by air and sea and then ported a fourth-quarter loss string of setbacks dented its
confiscation of the equiva- transactions for the organiza- laundering the profits. of 2 billion Swiss francs ($2.2 reputation.
lent of more than $12 mil- tion between July 2007 and billion) as it wrapped up "a
lion worth of deposits linked December 2008, "despite the
to the criminal group and presence of concrete indica-
opened with Credit Suisse. tions as to the criminal origin
of the funds."
The bank is also on the hook
for a compensatory claim of Two Bulgarian nationals were
more than $19 million. That's also found guilty of participa-
the amount that the court tion in a criminal organiza-
said could not be confiscated tion and aggravated money
due to the bank's internal laundering for acts commit-
failures, which the court said ted between May 2005 and
had encouraged the money January 2009.
laundering. The courts said it suspended
the sentences and fines for
Zurich-based Credit Suisse some of the individuals in
bank, Switzerland's second- part due to the passage of
largest bank after rival UBS, time since the alleged crimes
said it will appeal the deci- took place.
sion.
In the original indictment,
A former Credit Suisse em- the Swiss attorney general's
ployee who prosecutors said office noted how top-level
contributed to the organiza- athletes in Bulgaria, after the