Australia condemns Russia’s jailing of Melbourne man caught in Ukraine

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(Reuters) – Australia’s foreign minister on Saturday condemned a 13-year prison sentence handed by a Russian court to an Australian citizen for fighting alongside Ukrainian forces.

Oscar Jenkins, 33, will serve the sentence in a maximum security prison after being found guilty by a Russian court of participating in an armed conflict as a mercenary, state prosecutors in a part of eastern Ukraine controlled by Russia said on Friday.

Foreign minister Penny Wong said in a statement that Australia’s government was “appalled at the sham trial and 13-year sentence” given to Jenkins, previously a teacher in Melbourne.

“As a full serving member of the regular Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war,” said Wong, a long-time strident critic of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

“The Australian Government has made clear to Russia that Mr Jenkins must be given the protections afforded to him as a prisoner of war. Russia is obligated to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law, including humane treatment,” the foreign minister said.

She said Australia’s government would work with Ukraine and the International Committee of the Red Cross to push for Jenkins’ welfare and release.

Jenkins was serving with Ukraine’s military when he was captured by Russia last year as a prisoner of war, Australian media reported earlier this year. A video taken at the time showed him, dressed in combat uniform, being asked if he was a mercenary, reports said.

Australia is one of the largest non-NATO contributors to the West’s support for Ukraine and has been supplying aid, ammunition and defence equipment.

It has banned exports of alumina and aluminium ores, including bauxite, to Russia, and has sanctioned about 1,000 Russian individuals and entities.

(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Sam Holmes)