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Montexe 2 days ago +95

I mean, you can't just work for foreign intelligence/military while having connections to your own country's military and keep them in the dark. Is that really surprising?

95

Daren_I 2 days ago +12

I think it may be more they trained him and any training he utilizes working for a foreign military could come back on Australia.

12

Montexe 2 days ago +15

Yeah, it could be a lot of things. I just don't understand why he never notified them. Unless he knew they wouldn't let him because of his status in the military. But there are plenty of Australians fighting in Ukraine's foreign legion, so i have no idea, i guess I'm missing some details.

15

fiendishrabbit 2 days ago +14

He failed to discharged himself from the Australian reserves and failed to acquire a FWA (foreign work authorization, something required for all ex-military if they want to work for a foreign government/organization)

14

1917he 2 days ago +8

He did a wrong but what are the damages and does a 20 year imprisonment make sense for them?

8

Ben-182 2 days ago +13

Holy shit, he face 20 YEARS of imprisonment. So glad they caught this dangerous criminal tho. /s

13

GodAtum 2 days ago +1

I guess if he was just a civilian they couldn’t prosecute him?

1

LordMashie 2 days ago +8

From the article: >While it was not an offence for an Australian to join the armed forces of a foreign country, the AFP said "defence legislation regulates the work certain individuals can perform for a foreign military, government or company without authorisation".

8

Smart_Ass_Dave 2 days ago +6

I thought this was weird, but then I realized that as a member of the Australian Military it's possible he knows things that might be a problem if he were to be captured by the Russian military and interrogated. Now this guy probably knows f***-all, but it's not our place (or his) to decide what kind of intelligence risk he is. We obviously lack the context to decide that.

6

Any-Stick-8732 2 days ago +3

There’s one case — [Oscar Jenkins](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/16/australian-man-captured-while-fighting-for-ukraine-jailed-for-13-years) (he is civilian). Even though he’s facing trial and prison in Russia, he likely won’t be prosecuted by Australian authorities once he returns home.

3

fiendishrabbit 2 days ago +1

Depends on what you mean by "civilian". Just a civilian who was never privy to Australian military or government secrets. Yes. Then he wouldn't be on the list of individuals who need authorization to work for a foreign government. Ex-military/ex-government. On the hook for not seeking an FWA. Absconded reservist AND failed to seek an FWA. Current scenario.

1

AmyWilliamse 2 days ago -27

This shows how individual actions in conflicts can have broader diplomatic consequences.

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4redis 2 days ago -23

Isnt this classed as treason?

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fiendishrabbit 2 days ago +13

Only if you work for an enemy of Australia. Ukraine isn't that.

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Australian Army reservist faces court after allegedly working for Ukraine military without authorisation

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