Australia on June 15 canceled Russia's lease to build a new
embassy citing national security, drawing criticism from the
Kremlin, which said the move by Canberra reflected its
anti-Russian sentiment.
A Russian diplomat subsequently moved into a temporary building
on the site and police were unable to arrest him because he had
diplomatic immunity, local media reported.
The High Court on Monday rejected Moscow's appeal to hold onto
the site and shortly afterwards the squatter left the site, SBS
News reported.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government welcomed the
High Court's decision, adding: "We expect the Russian Federation
to act in accordance with the court's ruling."
Relations between Moscow and Canberra have deteriorated sharply
since Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.
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.
(Reporting by Lewis Jackson; Editing by Gareth Jones)
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