An Australian soldier and her husband have been accused of spying for Russia in the first charges brought under sweeping espionage laws.
The Russian-born couple, who hold Australian citizenship, are alleged to have sought to access defence material and pass it on to Moscow.
Police arrested the suspects at their Brisbane home on Thursday.
Kira Korolev, a 40-year-old army private, and her 62-year-old husband Igor Korolev appeared at magistrate’s court in the city on Friday, each charged with one count of preparing for an espionage offence.
They did not apply for bail and were remanded in custody until 20 September when they are next due to appear, according to reports.
Kira is an Australian Defence Force information systems technician, and Igor a self-employed labourer.
They moved to Australia more than a decade ago.
She became an Australian citizen in 2016 and her husband in 2020.
Revamped espionage laws
Australian Federal Police (AFP) commissioner Reece Kershaw said: “The AFP will allege the individuals worked together to access Australian Defence Force material that related to Australia’s national security interests.
“We allege they sought that information to provide it to Russian authorities.
“Whether that information was handed over remains a key focus of our investigation.”
The allegations were outlined by Australian police chief Reece Kershaw. Pic: AP
The couple are the first suspected spies to be charged under revamped espionage laws introduced in 2018 that also outlaw covert foreign interference in domestic politics.
Police allege Kira Korolev secretly travelled to Russia in 2023 while on extended leave from the Australian military.
Her husband allegedly accessed her work account from their Brisbane home and sent requested classified information to her in Russia.
Pair facing long jail terms
Mr Kershaw would not be drawn on how authorities were tipped off.
But the defence department’s security awareness “allowed us to intervene early and control the operation,” he said.
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Both suspects face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the offence.
However, if evidence was found the information had been shared with Russia, the charges could be upgraded, carrying a maximum jail term of 25 years or life.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “People will be held to account who interfere with our national interests and that’s precisely what these arrests represent.”
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Russian spy ring expelled
Last year it emerged Australia had expelled a large Russian spy ring made up of embassy and consular staff as well as other operatives using deep-cover identities.
Russia has previously accused Australia of “Russophobic hysteria” for cancelling the lease on the land where Moscow wanted to build its new embassy in Canberra.
The Australian government deemed the site to be a security risk because it was too close to Parliament House.
The arrests come as Australia unveiled a £131m military aid package for Ukraine at the NATO summit in Washington, the country’s single largest aid package since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Australia is one of the largest non-NATO contributors to the West’s support for Ukraine and has been supplying defence equipment to Kyiv, banned exports of aluminium ores to Russia and sanctioned more than 1,000 Russian individuals and entities.