Australian PM tells Russia to ‘back off’ over spying allegation

AFP | Sydney

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese yesterday rejected Russian criticism over the arrest of a Brisbane-based couple accused of spying for Moscow, telling the Kremlin to “back off”.

Albanese said Russia had “no credibility”, accusing Moscow of engaging in “espionage here and around the world”.

“Russia can get the message: back off,” he added, speaking at an event in Brisbane. Albanese was responding to criticism by the Russian embassy after Australian police on Friday said they had charged a 40-year-old woman and her 62-year-old husband -- both Russian passport holders -- with preparing for an espionage offence.

In a post on social media platform X, the Russian embassy in Canberra said the arrests and media coverage were “intended to launch another wave of anti-Russian paranoia in Australia”.

The embassy said it had requested official written information from the Australian authorities on the situation.

The couple, who were arrested at their home in Brisbane on Thursday, are accused of accessing national security-related material from the Australian military. They face up to 15 years in jail if convicted.

The accused woman was a private in the Australian defence force and had been working there for several years as an information systems technician, Australian police have said.