Authorities want to meet Oscar Jenkins in person to prove he is alive

Australian diplomats want Ukrainian and humanitarian counterparts to meet in-person with Oscar Jenkins in Russia, as Anthony Albanese says he refuses to take ‘the Putin regime at face value’.

Australian man Oscar Jenkins was captured by Russian forces in Ukraine. Picture: Screengrab

Australian diplomats are negotiating with foreign counterparts to organise an in person check on soldier Oscar Jenkins in Russia, as Anthony Albanese says he refuses to take “the Putin regime at face value”.

On Thursday, the Prime Minister called on the Kremlin to provide proof to back assurances that Australian prisoner of war Oscar Jenkins is alive. Defence Minister Richard Marles similarly questioned “the veracity” of Russia’s word, saying the government was “working well through the Ukrainian government but also through the International Red Cross, importantly, to try and verify that information”.

The Australian understands the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is trying to organise an in-person meeting with Oscar Jenkins, a process that means it must stay in the good graces of Russian diplomats like ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky.

“Embassies and diplomatic staff are critical to maintaining channels of communication between governments,” a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.

“In this case, it has enabled us to speak to Russia as we work to confirm information about Mr Jenkins’ welfare and convey our clear expectations of Russia’s obligations under international humanitarian law.

“As the Foreign Minister has said, if Russia does not provide Mr Jenkins the protections he is entitled to under international humanitarian law, our response will be unequivocal. All options remain on the table.”

Oscar Jenkins.

DFAT will now push for Ukrainian diplomats or the the International Committee of the Red Cross to meet with Mr Jenkins in person. If completed, it would be a diplomatic achievement that the US and UK were unable to replicate when handling similar prison exchange negotiations.

“We continue to request the Russian authorities to provide more information. They have provided information at this point, but we don’t take anything we hear of the Putin regime at face value,” Mr Albanese said at a press conference. “We have made it very clear that we think … Jenkins should be released.”

“(To his family), my heart goes out to you. This is a really difficult time for you.”

Kateryna Argyrou, co-chairperson at the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, said beyond the official confirmation from Russia that he was alive, there were still “lots of questions in terms of how he is being treated”.

“Going off other prisoners of war, Ukrainian prisoners of war, like Oleksandr (Sinytskyi), his children were Ukrainian refugees here, from his account we know how prisoners of war are typically treated,” she said.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. Picture: Alison Wynd

“There are wide-ranging reports by the UN and other international organisations about the systemic torture, denial of adequate care, public humiliation, forced confessions, that’s what we fear for Oscar.”

Mr Marles refused to speculate on whether Australia would be open to a prisoner swap to bring the soldier home.

“Before we get to that point in terms of Mr Jenkins, we need to be actually ascertaining the facts here, and that’s where our focus is,” Mr Marles told ABC RN. “If what Russia is saying is true, then they have obligations in respect of Mr Jenkins, and we expect them to be upheld.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NewsWire / David Geraghty

“Firstly they should be releasing him. But secondly, as a prisoner of war, Russia has obligations under international conventions. We expect them to be met and applied to this man and we will hold Russia to account in respect of that.”

On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong threatened an “unequivocal” response should Mr Jenkins be harmed.

Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior analyst Alex Bristow argued Russia would likely keep details on Mr Jenkins scarce to prevent diplomatic expulsions from Australia.

“They probably are quite happy with the story staying in the news. They’re probably quite happy to frustrate Australia’s level of information. Until it’s absolutely known what the situation of Oscar Jenkins is. it’s very difficult for the Australian government to put any sort of real pressure on the Russians by threatening, for example, to expel diplomats,” he said.

“We are dealing with Russia so the rules are never going to be applied quite as they’re written down.”

Simeon Boikov, the self-styled Aussie Cossack, said he was “very pleased” Mr Jenkins was alive and that it “opens up hope for an exchange”.

Mr Boikov, who has been holed up in the Russian consulate for 800 days, said the Russian side was committed to him after he was granted Russian citizenship eight months into his consulate stay by presidential decree.

Simeon Boikov also known as Aussie Cossack is hoping to be exchanged for captured Russian prisoner of war Oscar Jenkins. Picture: Telegram

A prisoner swap just required “good will” from both sides, he said.

“I think what we need is a political appetite and I think that is present. From the Russian side, I don’t think there are any problems. If the Australian government … would say hypothetically ‘yes, we are not opposed for Aussie Cossack to leave the country’,” Boikov said.

“It would be good for Albo and the establishment because I won’t be here for the election,” he said, adding that there was continuous speculation that he was involved in foreign interference – which he denies “of course”.

He said his chances are good because “Oscar Jenkins is a niche market”.

“Russia has thousands of prisoners … There will be plenty of other exchanges, but as a political prisoner here, Oscar Jenkins is very niche.”

Opposition foreign affairs spokesperson David Coleman pushed for “strong action” in negotiations.

“We urge the Government to leave no stone unturned in taking action to ensure his proper treatment - and to secure his release,” he said.