Russia Slams Australian Espionage Allegations

In a recent press conference on July 12, the AFP and ASIO chiefs addressed concerns about Russian espionage in Australia, which the Russian Embassy dismissed as sensationalism. The conference coincided with the arrest of two Russian-born Australian citizens, Kira Korolev and her husband Igor, charged under a 2018 national security law for espionage. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) allege that Korolev, an army private, visited Russia in 2023 and coached her husband to access defense information. The couple, in police custody, did not seek bail. National security expert Dr. William Stoltz noted Australia has become a heightened target for espionage following the AUKUS pact and its support for sanctions against Russia. Investigations are ongoing to determine if the couple’s alleged espionage activities predate their Australian citizenship.