On June 28th the White House strongly condemned the notion from the Russian federal government that two Americans captured in Ukraine may face the death sentence. Other than telling reporters he’s been briefed, Joe Biden has made no statement to Russia regarding the captured Americans, instead relegating the response to a spokesman.
“It’s appalling that a public official in Russia would even suggest the death penalty for two American citizens that were in Ukraine,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said at a White House briefing.
“We’re going to continue to try and learn what we can about this,” he added.
Alexander Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, are thought to be held by the pro-Moscow Donetsk People’s Republic, which sentenced one Moroccan and two British fighters to death.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Monday informed NBC the pair are“soldiers of fortune” eligible for criminal trial– prior to stating on a press call Tuesday that Russia and that he “can’t rule out” their executions.
Drueke and Huynh, both United States military veterans from Alabama, are thought to have actually been caught near Kharkiv while assisting Ukraine to resist Russia’s illegal invasion, which started on Feb. 24.
Russia acknowledges Donetsk as an independent nation, however, its rebel leaders have since last year relied greatly on Russia for assistance. Russia does not have the death penalty as a criminal charge, however, the breakaway state of Donetsk does. This creates a legal conundrum, considering that the men both American citizens, were captured by the Russian military during an illegal action, and are being held by people that Ukraine has declared criminals in an area that is by law under Ukrainian jurisdiction given that the US does not recognize the breakaway regions as sovereign.
In a video interview recordedafter their capture, an interrogator possibly associated with the pro-Russia rebels notifies Huynh that he’s qualified for the death sentence under the laws of the Donetsk republic.
“You do know about the death sentence that was ordered on the two British soldiers, and are you aware of the realistic possibility that death may happen to you?” the person says.
Huynh reacted, likely under duress, that “I know that I have committed crimes and I am willing to accept my punishment.”
The Moroccan and British fighters formerly sentenced to death by firing squad have actually not yet been killed.