Kira Korolev, a 40-year-old Australian army private, and her husband Igor Korolev, 62, were arrested and charged with preparing for an espionage offense after allegedly obtaining Australian Defense Force (ADF) material with the intention of providing it to Russian authorities. The couple, both Russian-born and holding dual Australian-Russian citizenship, were represented by lawyers in Brisbane Magistrates Court and did not enter pleas.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw stated that the couple accessed material related to Australia’s national security interests, with Kira allegedly instructing Igor to access her work account and send sensitive information to her while she was in Russia. The investigation is ongoing to determine if any information was actually handed over to Russian authorities.
⚡⚡⚡Two former #Russian citizens were detained in #Australia on charges of preparing for #Espionage – the husband and wife were allegedly planning to transfer secret #information to #Moscow
A married couple from Russia, Kira and Igor Korolev, were detained in Australia. They… pic.twitter.com/tUbqQfXJ3L
— News.Az (@news_az) July 12, 2024
The couple has been in Australia for over a decade, with Kira becoming a citizen in 2016 and Igor in 2020. Kira, an information systems technician in the army, had obtained a security clearance, while Igor worked as a self-employed laborer.
This case is the first to be prosecuted under Australia’s modernized espionage laws introduced in 2018, reflecting the country’s heightened vigilance against foreign interference. If found guilty of preparing for an espionage offense, the Korolevs could face up to 15 years in prison. Should evidence emerge that the information was delivered to Russia, the charges could be upgraded, carrying a potential life sentence.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Australian security officials, including ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess, emphasized the seriousness of the espionage threat and the robustness of Australia’s national security measures. Albanese refrained from commenting directly on the case but expressed confidence in the country’s ability to counter espionage activities.
World’s smartest Russian spy plot uncovered. Kira and Igor Korolev joined the Australian Defence Force after obtaining citizenship like 5 years ago. They logged into their official ADF accounts to try obtain information to sell to Russia pic.twitter.com/6ANKpmr4uE
— Drew Pavlou 🇦🇺🇺🇦🇹🇼 (@DrewPavlou) July 12, 2024
The espionage case comes amid broader concerns about foreign interference and espionage in Australia. Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) have highlighted the ongoing threat posed by multiple countries seeking to steal Australia’s secrets. Recent actions, such as the expulsion of a large Russian spy ring last year, underscore the persistent espionage risks Australia faces.
The Russian embassy dismissed the allegations against the Korolevs as an attempt to fuel anti-Russian sentiment in Australia. However, Australian officials maintain that their actions are necessary to safeguard national security and protect against espionage.
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