State prosecutors in the areas of eastern Ukraine under Russian control said Friday that Russia has sentenced an Australian man to 13 years in a maximum-security jail for fighting with Ukrainian forces.
According to a statement from prosecutors, a Luhansk court convicted 33-year-old Oscar Jenkins guilty of engaging in armed combat as a mercenary after finding that he had fought for Ukraine against Russia from March to December of last year.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong called the punishment a “sham trial,” said her government was “appalled” by it, and asked Russia to treat Jenkins in line with international humanitarian law on Saturday. Since Jenkins, a Melbourne native, was taken prisoner by Russian soldiers in December, Australia has demanded his release on several occasions.
“We still have grave concerns about Mr. Jenkins. To promote his wellbeing and release, we are collaborating with Ukraine and other partners, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross,” Wong said in a statement.
Russian prosecutors charged Jenkins with receiving mercenary wages of $7,400 to $10,000 per month to fight in Ukraine. According to the Kremlin, mercenaries are not protected by international law as prisoners of war and are instead criminally prosecuted.
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