Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stood his ground against Russian criticism of the recent arrest of a Brisbane-based couple accused of spying for Moscow, telling the Kremlin to “back off” and asserting that Russia lacked credibility in espionage matters both in Australia and globally.
The 40-year-old woman and her 62-year-old husband, both Russian passport holders, were charged with preparing for an espionage offense after allegedly accessing national security-related material from the Australian military. The woman, a former private in the Australian defense force, had been working as an information systems technician before taking undisclosed trips to Russia.
Albanese’s strong stance against Russia was evident in his condemnation of their actions in Ukraine and their interference in the domestic affairs of other countries. The Australian PM emphasized the need for Russia to abide by international law and expressed his disdain for their behavior.
The accused couple, who became Australian citizens in 2016 and 2020 respectively, appeared in court and will remain in custody until their next hearing.
© 2024 AFP