Russia launches legal challenge against Australia over cancelled embassy lease
Russia has told the Australian government it will launch a High Court challenge against the cancellation of its lease for an embassy next to Parliament House, a day after an apparent squatter was spotted on the land in question.
A spokesperson for Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said the Russian Federation had informed Australia on Friday afternoon of its intention to start legal proceedings.
However, the government seems confident in its position, labelling the move as expected and part of Russia’s standard practices.
“The Russian Federation has informed the Commonwealth of its intention to commence legal proceedings in the High Court, in which they will challenge the validity of the legislation on constitutional grounds,” the spokesperson said.
“Russia’s challenge to the validity of the law is not unexpected.
“This is part of the Russian playbook.”
Legislation was rushed through parliament with bipartisan support last week to cancel Russia’s lease on the land at Yarralumla due to national security concerns.
“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 said at the time.
Russia’s legal challenge comes as a Russian diplomat has been spotted squatting on the plot of land in an apparent protest against the decision.
The man has been living in a demountable home on the site for the last few days while under observation from the Australian Federal Police.
If the man is a member of Russia’s diplomatic mission to Australia, he would be unable to be arrested due to diplomatic immunity, unless the federal government declares him persona non grata and deports him back to Russia.
This would almost certainly spark a reprisal from Moscow, which last week voiced its clear disapproval over the government’s decision regarding the lease.
Russia retains an embassy in the Canberra suburb of Griffith.
Speaking at a press conference today, Albanese downplayed the man’s presence on the site.
“Of course, we anticipated that Russia would not be happy with our response,” Albanese said.
“We expected that, but we’re confident of our position and processes are underway for the Commonwealth to formalise possession of the site.”
Albanese said the national security threat posed by a potential Russian embassy on the site was not matched by the man’s presence.
“A bloke standing in the cold on a bit of grass in Canberra is not a threat to our national security,” he said.
“The site is secure.”
9news.com.au has contacted the Australian Federal Police for comment.
