Australia will continue to advocate for Melbourne teacher Oscar Jenkins who was reportedly charged with fighting in defence of Ukraine against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
Russian puppet authorities said on Friday Jenkins would be tried for his alleged role with Ukrainian forces, according to a report in the UK’s Telegraph newspaper.
The development comes four months after the former Victorian school teacher’s capture was revealed in December.
”The Prosecutor’s Office of the Luhansk People’s Republic approved the indictment in the criminal case against 33-year-old citizen of the Commonwealth of Australia Oscar Charles Augustus Jenkins,” the authorities reportedly said in a statement.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said this morning Australia had not abandoned Jenkins and would continue to advocate for him.
“We’ll continue to make representations to the reprehensible regime of Vladimir Putin on behalf of Mr Jenkins,” Albanese said.
“We will stand up and use whatever avenues we have at our disposal to continue to make those representations.
“The Russian war against the people of Ukraine is a war against international law, it’s against international sovereignty.
“The people of Ukraine are fighting for a democratic nation for their own sovereignty, but they’re also fighting for the international rule of law, which is why we do want to see peace but we do want to see it on the terms that are acceptable to Ukraine.
“It’s why I have clearly said we’re prepared to be a part of a coalition of the willing peacekeeping force.”
