Oscar Jenkins: Australian teacher who is believed to have been killed by Russia in Ukraine is alive, says Foreign Minister

On By Littum

An Australian man who was feared dead after being caught by Russian forces is alive, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has announced.

Oscar Jenkins, 32, A teacher who signed up for fighting Ukraine against Russia was taken in captivity last December. A video showed he was hit by a Russian interrogation that triggered fear of his life.

“The Australian government has received confirmation from Russia that Oscar Jenkins is alive and in custody,” Mrs. Wong said on Wednesday.

Australia still has “serious concerns about Mr. Jenkins as prisoners of war,” she said.

“We have made it clear to Russia in Canberra and Moscow that Mr. Jenkins is prisoners of war, and Russia is obliged to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law, including human treatment.”

Canberra has called on Russia to release Mr. Jenkins.

“If Russia does not give Mr. Jenkins the protection he is entitled to under international humanitarian law, our response will be unambiguous,” Wong said.

Russia has previously warned that foreign warriors in Ukraine will not receive the rights granted to legal contrary to international humanitarian law.

“I wish to make an official statement that none of the mercenaries the West sends to Ukraine to fight for the nationalist regime in Kiev can be regarded as conflicting in accordance with international humanitarian law or enjoy prisoners of war,” a defense ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by Tass after Russian forces invaded Ukraine in 2022.

“At best, they can expect to be prosecuted as criminals. We encourage all foreign citizens who may have plans to go and fight for Kyiv’s nationalist regime to think a dozen times before they go. “

Mrs. Wong thanked Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and the International Committee on the Red Cross president for their “ongoing advocacy for Mr. Jenkins”.

The Russian Ambassador said Jenkins was in the detention of the armed forces, The Guardian reported. His state of health is said to be “normal”.

Australia’s Foreign Ministry and Trade provides consular support to Mr. Jenkins’ family.

Another foreign fighter who trains with Mr. Jenkins said earlier this month that he thought the Russian forces had executed the Australian prisoner to make an example of him, Sydney Morning Herald reported on January 14.

Shortly thereafter, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government was “seriously concerned” about the catch of Mr. Jenkins and warned of the “strongest actions” whose reports of his death were correct.

On January 14, Australia called Russian Ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky to answer questions about Mr. Jenkin’s status. “The Russian Federation is obliged to treat all prisoners of war in accordance with international humanitarian law,” a spokesman said in a statement at the time.