The man behind the YouTube video that saw war prisoner Aiden Aslin speaking after he was captured by Russians says he is "happy to answer for all of my actions, to anyone" once he will return to UK later this year. It comes after the Google-owned platform confirmed the video was taken down on Friday evening (April 22).
Aiden Aslin, 28, originally from Newark, was captured while fighting for Ukrainian armed forces and has appeared in a YouTube video calling for his freedom 'under duress'. The 45-minute film was released online, during which the prisoner was questioned by Graham William Phillips, a man believed to be from Nottingham who has previously worked for the Kremlin-backed television channel RT and been accused of spreading Moscow’s propaganda.
During the film, Mr Aslin answers 'no' when asked several times if he was speaking under duress. Questioned by Phillips, he recounts his time with the Ukrainian military and repeats several of Moscow’s propaganda lines, including that he was a mercenary and not a legitimate combatant.
READ MORE: Aiden Aslin's mum just wants her 'hero' son back home after he was captured by Russians
But Mr Phillips, who was interviewed via email, told Nottinghamshire Live: "People spreading propaganda themselves accusing me of spreading propaganda, when actually what I do is anti-propaganda. A paradox."
"My motivation is to get to the truth, and get it out there," he added. Mr Phillips worked as a journalist in Kiev in 2012, in the context of Euro 2012, and "just went from there". Although he lives in the UK, and is based in London, Mr Phillips said he had spent an extended period out of the country.
He said he was "proud of [his] connection with Nottingham" and loved the city. It is unclear what his connections are to Nottingham.
Mr Phillips added: "I'll return to my home in the UK later this year, and am happy to answer for all of my actions, to anyone. Actually I'm very proud of my work, and proud to represent the UK, and Nottingham, in my journalistic work, by showing absolute commitment to truthful, and real, journalism, almost obsolete concepts in the UK already. But I fly the flag."
He denied breaking the Geneva convention by interviewing Mr Aslin, describing the claims as "nonsense". He went on and said: "It's a shame to see YouTube removing the video of him in which, among other things, Aiden spoke personally to his family, and also made a specific request to Boris Johnson as to what he wanted to happen to him - a prisoner exchange. Clearly YouTube's removal of this video interview - interview requested by Aiden himself and in full compliance with both the Geneva Conventions and YouTube guidelines - is going to damage Aiden's chances of his appeal to Boris Johnson, for the prisoner exchange, being fulfilled."
He added: "Actually no one's even talking about that, they're all talking about myself, and more interested in smearing, slandering, discrediting me, than helping Aiden... If I were Aiden's family, I'd be very concerned about the priorities of those who say they are trying to help Aiden."
Mr Phillips said that he had now uploaded the video to other platforms, including Rumble. He said: "In general, the interview was now a week ago, I've not spoken to or see Aiden since, and am continuing my work here from Donbass, reporting and showing the truth of what's going on."
Many, including Mr Aslin's mum and Newark's Conservative MP Robert Jenrick, had called on YouTube to take the video down. Videos on YouTube can also be monetised, causing significant controversy over any such sums which may have been made from the hostage footage.
However, Aiden's mum Ang Wood said she was "so happy" that the video of her son was taken off YouTube. "I think the Government should take action. This man has no regard for the families and friends of the prisoners," she said.
Ms Wood, who now lives in her son's hometown in Newark, added: "He [Graham Phillips] is spreading propaganda and misinformation. He is now doing it on Facebook and other platforms."
Nottinghamshire Live has been told that the the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office condemns the exploitation of prisoners of war for political purposes. In accordance with the Geneva Convention, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) recommends that images that identify prisoners of war, or show them in humiliating or degrading situations, are not published unless there is a “compelling public interest” in doing so.
Meanwhile, a video posted on Facebook showing Aiden being questioned while handcuffed has now been removed after Sir Nick Clegg was contacted, according to the Prime Minister. The clip showing was taken down after Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries rang the former UK deputy prime minister Sir Nick, who is now the vice president of global affairs at Facebook’s parent company Meta.
It's understood that the footage, taken by Graham Phillips, was been investigated by Meta prior to Ms Dorries’ intervention.
