Foreign Minister Penny Wong has reacted to the discovery of a previously unseen video of Australian prisoner of war Oscar Jenkins, saying Russia is “prone” to issuing misinformation.
News of — the authenticity of which SBS News has not verified — comes after the federal government said earlier this month that Russia had told it that the .
Jenkins had been fighting for Ukraine’s foreign legion in its war against Russia, and .
Albanese was asked whether the video had been verified, in an interview with ABC Radio Sydney on Tuesday. He did not directly address that, but when asked if it was proof Jenkins was alive the prime minister responded: “This would appear to confirm that”.
“I have seen the video, but we still hold serious concerns for Mr Jenkins’ welfare,” Albanese said.
“We’ve made it clear to Russia that Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war and that there are obligations that kick in in accordance with international humanitarian law and they must be observed.”
He reiterated the federal government’s call for Russia to release Jenkins.
Wong said the government had been aware of the video in recent days.
“Russia is very prone to misinformation and disinformation,” she said.
“In relation to Mr Jenkins more generally, we should always be aware of Russia’s propensity to provide us with incorrect information.”
She added that she was engaging with both Ukraine and the International Committee of the Red Cross in relation to Jenkins’s case.
Albanese raised Jenkins’s welfare in a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this month.
That came as Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia and New Zealand Vasyl Myroshnychenko said Jenkins would be classified as a prisoner of war by Ukraine and the government there would work to negotiate his release.
Jenkins was the first Australian combatant reportedly captured by Russian forces.
Russia has said foreign citizens fighting for Ukraine will be prosecuted as mercenaries and face up to 15 years in jail, which would contravene international law.