Oscar Jenkins, 33, was found guilty by a court in Luhansk of participating in the armed conflict as a mercenary after being convicted of fighting for Ukraine against Russia between March and December last year, News.az reports citing CNN.com.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Saturday her government was “appalled” by the verdict, calling it a “sham trial” and calling on Russia to treat Jenkins in line with international humanitarian law.
Australia has repeatedly called for Jenkins’ release since he was captured by Russian forces in December.
“We remain deeply concerned about Mr Jenkins. We are working with Ukraine and other partners, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to advocate for his welfare and freedom,” Wong said in a statement.
Russian prosecutors have accused Jenkins of receiving between $7,400 and $10,000 a month to fight as a mercenary in Ukraine. The Kremlin argues that mercenaries are subject to criminal prosecution and are not entitled to prisoner-of-war protections under international law.
In a photo shared by the Russian-controlled court in Luhansk, Jenkins was seen standing in a glass cage with his hands behind his back.
The court ordered Jenkins to serve his sentence in a maximum-security penal colony, the prosecutor’s office said.
Jenkins is thought to have joined an international brigade among the Ukrainian ranks, according to Reuters. His arrest came to light late last year when a video surfaced on Russian Telegram accounts purportedly showing Jenkins being taken as a prisoner of war.
In the footage, which CNN has been unable to geolocate, Jenkins’ hands are tightly bound, and he appears to struggle to understand questions posed to him in Russian. A man strikes him twice across the head.
Speaking in a mix of English, Ukrainian and Russian, he identifies himself as “a soldier” and says he is a teacher in China and a student in Australia.
Earlier this year, media reports suggesting he might have been killed prompted Canberra to summon the Russian ambassador, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vowing the “strongest action” over any harm caused to the man.
Albanese said last month his government would continue to make representations to the “reprehensible regime” of Russian President Vladimir Putin on behalf of Jenkins.
Australia has repeatedly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has given Kyiv close to $1 billion in assistance since 2022, while its military has provided training for Ukraine’s armed forces.
