Protest to free Aiden Aslin to take place in Nottingham on Sunday, June 26

A protest takes place in Nottingham on Sunday to campaign for the release of Newark’s Aiden Aslin and other prisoners of war held by Russia.

Aiden’s grandmother Pam Hall was in Newark Market Place on Saturday drumming up support for the protest, which will take place in the city centre from 10.30am.

Aiden, 28, and fellow Brit Shaun Pinner, 48, from Bedfordshire, together with Moroccan Kyiv resident Saaudun Brahim, 21, have been sentenced to death in the Ukrainian breakaway republic of Donetsk People’s Republic.

They have a month to appeal the decision before the sentence can be carried out.

Aiden’s grandmother, Pam Hall, from Newark, said: “We are now two weeks into that month and things look just as bleak. I am stressed — it’s very stressful.

“As a family we can’t believe what’s happening.

“Aiden managed to speak to his mum Angela last night and appeared very stressed. I can’t imagine what he and the others are feeling.

“When the sentence was passed our reaction was one of total disbelief. They are being painted as mercenaries, or criminals, when the reality is that they were serving soldiers ­— British citizens but men of Ukraine who deserve to be treated like any other prisoners of war.”

Reacting to the sentence, Aiden was filmed for Russian state television saying he was disappointed and God would ultimately be his judge.

Religious Pam said that ultimately God would judge all involved in the show trial, and in the war itself, and all would one day be accountable for their actions.

The UK and Ukrainian governments are doing everything possible diplomatically to ensure the men’s safe release.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has written to Aiden’s mother, Angela Wood, to explain what is being done and Prime Minister Boris Johnson was appalled at the men’s predicament and urged they be treated in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

Pam said: “I don’t believe it was a fair trial; it was a show trial.

“In Russia, there is no death penalty for prisoners of war. The Donetsk People’s Republic wants to be part of Russia so it should follow their example and not carry out this sentence. I want to hear from Russia. I want to know what Russia thinks.

“What can people do? Get in contact with your MPs and your elected representatives. Let them know that this barbaric injustice is not acceptable. Ask them to fight for justice. You don’t just have to be in the UK to do that. Do it of you are in the Ukraine or even in Russia.

“There are mothers in Russia whose sons are on the front line who can’t want them there and wouldn’t want their sons to die in this or any way. If you can reach out to someone of influence no matter where in the world you are, please do so. If you are in Nottinghamshire, please join this protest.

The protest has been organised by the Notts Ukraine Solidarity Campaign and is sponsored by the Newark Labour Party, of which Pam isn’t a member.

The organisers said: “Three soldiers of the Ukrainian army fighting back against the Russian invasion have been sentenced to death by Putin’s regime in Donetsk because they were not born in Ukraine.

“We are campaigning for this hideous threat made against them to be lifted.

“It is in breach of international law - the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war.

“We demand their immediate release, the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and an end to the crimes committed by Putin’s forces on the Ukrainian people and its brave fighters now held as PoWs.”