<
https://theconversation.com/russia-is-labelling-oscar-jenkins-a-mercenary-not-a-prisoner-of-war-whats-the-difference-and-why-does-this-matter-256996>
"Oscar Jenkins, a 33-year-old former teacher from Melbourne, was one of many
foreigners who responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call in
2022 for volunteers to join Ukraine’s armed forces to help repel Russia’s
invasion.
In early 2024, Jenkins joined Ukraine’s International Legion of Territorial
Defence, which has attracted some 20,000 fighters from 50 countries since the
war began. He had no previous military experience, but this wasn’t a
requirement to join.
In December, Jenkins was captured by Russian forces in Russian-occupied eastern
Ukraine and accused of serving as a “mercenary” in Ukraine’s 66th Mechanised
Brigade’s 402nd Rifle Battalion. He was tried in a Russian court and sentenced
on May 16 to 13 years imprisonment in a maximum-security penal colony.
When a foreigner volunteers to fight in a war, their legal status under
international law can be complicated.
Are they a soldier with the full authorisation of one of the warring parties to
engage in hostilities? Or are they an illegal mercenary?
And what happens if they are captured?"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
