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4mo ago

Australia Condemns Russia's 13-Year Sentence for Captured Volunteer Fighter

Oscar Jenkins, an Australian citizen fighting for Ukraine, was convicted as a mercenary by a Russian-controlled court, sparking diplomatic efforts for his release.

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Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Australia Penny Wong addresses the 79th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 27, 2024. REUTERS/Kent J. Edwards/File Photo
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Overview

  • Oscar Jenkins, 33, was sentenced to 13 years in a maximum-security penal colony by a Russian-controlled court in Luhansk for alleged mercenary activity.
  • Australia's government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, has labeled the trial a sham and demanded Jenkins be treated as a prisoner of war under international humanitarian law.
  • Jenkins, a former biology teacher from Melbourne, was captured in December 2024 while serving with Ukraine's military and has since appeared in videos showing signs of mistreatment and poor health.
  • Diplomatic efforts to secure Jenkins' release are intensifying, with Albanese expected to discuss his case with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting in Rome.
  • Speculation has arisen about Jenkins potentially being included in broader prisoner-exchange negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, though his classification as a mercenary complicates such efforts.