Australia cancels lease for new Russian embassy citing national security
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[June 15, 2023]
By Renju Jose
SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia said on Thursday it would introduce
legislation to parliament to cancel Russia's lease to build a new
embassy in the national capital of Canberra, citing national security.
The move follows the conclusion of a long-running litigation regarding
the leased site after the federal court ruled last month that an
eviction order made by the National Capital Authority - a government
body tasked with the planning of the national capital - was invalid.
"The government has received very clear security advice as to the risk
presented by a new Russian presence so close to parliament house," Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters.
"To be clear, today's decision is one taken in the national security
interests of Australia."
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Albanese said his government acted quickly to ensure the leased site did
not become an official diplomatic presence.
The termination of the lease would have no impact on Russia's existing
embassy in Canberra.
The Kremlin called the Australian move a hostile one which reflected
what it said was the authorities' anti-Russian sentiment.
"Australia to our regret is continuing to zealously move forward as one
of the authors of anti-Russian hysteria which is rippling across the
collective West," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
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"This is another hostile move from the Australian side which we will
take into account, and if issues arise which require reciprocity
from us, we will also behave accordingly."
Russia bought the lease in 2008 and had plans approved in 2011 but
the National Capital Authority blamed the embassy for leaving the
site unused, according to Australian media.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said the "principal problem" with
the proposed second Russian embassy was its location, as the site
sits directly adjacent to the parliament house.
The bill has the support of the opposition coalition and is expected
to pass both houses.
Albanese had said that his government anticipated a response from
Russia over the decision.
"We don't expect that Russia's in a position to talk about
international law, given their rejection of it so consistently and
so brazenly with their invasion of Ukraine," he said.
Australia is one of the largest non-NATO contributors to the West's
support for Ukraine and has been supplying aid, ammunition and
defence equipment and has banned exports of alumina and aluminium
ores, including bauxite, to Russia.
Since the conflict began, Australia has provided millions in
military support to Ukraine and has sanctioned more than 1,000
Russian individuals and entities.
(Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Michael Perry/Andrew
Osborn)
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