War in Ukraine: Western prisoners transferred from Russia to Saudi Arabia

Briton Aiden Aislen is one of the prisoners of war transiting through Saudi Arabia.

PA

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1 min

Ten prisoners of war were transferred Wednesday evening September 21 from Russia to Saudi Arabia.

Among them are five Britons and two Americans.

All should soon be able to return to their country in safety, according to Riyadh, which played the mediators in this affair.

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This transfer was announced by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Five Britons, two Americans, a Moroccan, a Swede and a Croat were part of the trip.

According to the BBC, all of the Britons had left to fight alongside Ukrainian forces before being captured by pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

London announced that among these men was Aiden Aislin.

He had been sentenced to death in June for mercenarism by the justice of the separatist authorities of Donetsk in Ukraine.

The two freed US citizens had also been taken prisoner while fighting in Ukraine.

Saudi Arabia, with Russia in OPEC +

This exchange was therefore facilitated by the efforts of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The Saudi kingdom voted in favor of a first United Nations resolution to denounce the Russian invasion and demand the withdrawal of forces from Moscow.

On the other hand, he leads with Russia OPEC +, the extended version of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. 

Riyadh notably resisted Western pressure regarding 

its crude oil production

, when Washington asked it to increase its exports in order to alleviate the current energy crisis.

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  • Ukraine

  • Russia

  • Saudi Arabia

  • United States

  • UK

  • Mohammad bin Salman