On Thursday, Australia announced it would draft legislation to cancel Russia’s lease to build a new embassy in Canberra.
The federal court concluded last month that the National Capital Authority’s eviction notice was unlawful, ending a long-running lawsuit over the leased land.
“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 told reporters.
“To be clear, today’s decision is one taken in the national security interests of Australia.”
Albanese said his government promptly prevented the leased property from becoming an official diplomatic presence.
The lease termination wouldn’t affect Russia’s Canberra embassy.
According to Australian media, Russia bought the lease in 2008 and had plans authorized in 2011, but the National Capital Authority blamed the embassy for leaving the land empty.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said the “principal problem” with the proposed second Russian embassy was its placement next to the parliament house.
The bill should pass both houses with opposition coalition support.
Albanese said his administration “will await what response occurs” from Russia over the decision.
“We don’t expect that Russia’s in a position to talk about international law, given their rejection of it so consistently and so brazenly with their invasion of Ukraine,” he said.
Australia is one of the greatest non-NATO supporters of Ukraine, providing aid, ammunition, and defense equipment and banning Russia’s alumina and aluminum ores exports, including bauxite.
Since the crisis began, Australia has sanctioned over 1,000 Russians and given Ukraine millions in military aid.
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