Australia PM tells Moscow to ‘back off’ after Russian claims over espionage arrests
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The married couple, who hold Australian citizenship, were arrested on charges of working to access material related to Australia’s national security.
PHOTO: AFP
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SYDNEY – Russia accused Australia of inciting “anti-Russian paranoia” for charging a Russian-born couple with espionage
The married couple, who hold Australian citizenship, were arrested on charges of working to access material related to Australia’s national security, although no significant compromise had been identified, the Australian Federal Police said on July 12.
“There is widespread information about the arrest in Brisbane of the spouses Kira and Igor Korolev, who have Russian and Australian citizenship, on charges of attempting to spy for Russia,” the Russian Embassy in Canberra said in a statement to Russia’s RIA state news agency on July 12.
“The purpose of this campaign is obvious – to raise a new wave of anti-Russian paranoia here, distract Australians from the numerous failures of the policies of the ruling Labor Party,” it said.
Mr Albanese, speaking to reporters on July 13, said Russia needed to “stop interfering in domestic affairs of other sovereign nations”.
“Russia can get the message – back off. Russia engages in espionage here and around the world,” he said in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland state, according to a transcript.
Australia, one of the largest non-Nato contributors to Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion
The embassy requested written information from the Australian authorities on the couple’s situation and was considering “appropriate measures of consular assistance”, the Australian Broadcasting Corp reported on July 13.
The embassy did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
On July 12, the Korolevs appeared in the magistrate’s court in Brisbane, court filings show, and were charged with one count each of preparing for an espionage offence, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail.
The charges are the first under laws introduced in 2018.
They did not apply for bail and were remanded in custody until Sept 20, when they are next due to appear, the media reported.
The wife, 40, an information systems technician in the Australian Army, travelled to Russia and instructed her husband in Australia to log into her official account to access defence materials, the police said.
Canberra has supplied defence equipment to Kyiv, banned exports of aluminium ores to Russia and sanctioned more than 1,000 Russian individuals and entities. REUTERS
