Moroccan Lawyers Seek to Appeal Death Sentence of National in Pro-Russian Donbass Court

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) has received the agreement of the Russian authorities for this initiative, announced the president Aziz Ghali. To support his request, the official argues that Saadoun does not have Ukrainian nationality, as he holds a still valid residence permit and this title is officially withdrawn if nationality is granted to an applicant.

Before the AMDH, the Moroccan Coalition against the Death Penalty had mandated lawyers to follow the trial without pleading, as the pro-Russian authorities in Donbass, Ukraine have not allowed any foreign lawyer to plead before a court.

For their part, the separatist authorities have stated that they have appointed ex officio lawyers for foreigners on their soil. The Foreign Minister had declared that "neither Morocco nor Great Britain have contacted our country". According to her, the two countries "are not interested in the fate of their citizens." Information denied by Aziz Ghali, who said that the National Human Rights Council in Morocco is following the case and that the AMDH is in contact with the court-appointed lawyer of Brahim Saadoun.