Penny Wong unleashes Russia and said that Aussie was imprisoned after an ‘false procedure’

An Australian man who was imprisoned for 13 years in a Russian prison of maximum security for fighting next to Ukrainian troops, must be released immediately after getting a false process, said the Australian government.

Oscar Jenkins, 33, was found guilty by a court of participating in an armed conflict as a mercenary, said a statement on Friday of public prosecutors in a part of East -Ukraine controlled by Russia.

The court ruled that between March and December 2024 he participated in combat operations against Russian troops.

Mr Jenkins, a teacher of Melbourneserved with the army of Ukraine when he was captured by Russian troops.

Both parties of politics offered two -part support for the return of Mr Jenkins and urged Russia to adhere to international law.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that the Australian government was shocked about what it described as an ‘false process’.

“As a fully serving member of the regular forces of Ukraine, Mr. Jenkins is a prisoner of war,” she said in a statement.

Senator Wong insisted on the Russian authorities to give Mr Jenkins the protection offered to him as a prisoner of war, including Himan treated in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Oscar Jenkins was imprisoned for 13 years in a Russian prison for fighting next to Ukrainian troops

Jenkins, dressed in army equipment, answers questions – believed to be a Russian prisoner

“We work together with Ukraine and other partners, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to argue for his well -being and release,” said Wong.

Russia has previously expressed his opinion that foreign hunters who serve Ukrainian troops are mercenaries and can be liable for prosecution.

But experts from international law say that because Mr. Jenkins was a warrior who fought on behalf of Ukraine, he would be eligible as a prisoner of war among the Geneva ConventionRight to legal protection.

Spokesperson James Paterson of the opposition at home described the situation as a serious violation of international law.

“Russia trusts, to be honest, a unique reading of the law to arrive at the position that he could be treated other than a prisoner of war,” he told reporters in Melbourne on Saturday evening.

“He is a prisoner of war, he fought for the Ukrainian national army, he was part of the Ukrainian army and he has all the protection of the Geneva Treaty under that.”

Senator Paterson said he suffered from reports that Mr. Jenkins would be sent to a kind of criminal colony to serve his sentence.

“That would be a shocking abuse, a shocking further abuse,” he said.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that the Australian government was shocked after Oscar Jenkins had been sent to a Russian prison for 13 years

Ukrainian ambassador in Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko has said earlier that his government added Mr Jenkins to her list of prisoners of war and would negotiate for his release in a fair.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also said that Australia has made representations to Ukraine, including a one-on-one discussion he had with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zenskiy.

Mr. Jenkins was captured in the occupied eastern Ukraine and taken in the Russian detention in December.

He was visibly bruised and shaken in videos on social media as he was interrogated and beaten by a Russian -speaking prisoner.

The 33-year-old is considered the first Australian fighter who is reportedly caught by Russian troops.