Move FM Australian News

CANBERRA, Australia: After an Australian court ruled that Moscow had no claim to a site near the national parliament in Canberra, a Russian diplomat living on the land set aside for a future Russian embassy has left the site.

Citing national security concerns, on 15th June Australia canceled Russia’s lease to build a new embassy.

The decision by Canberra was criticized by the Kremlin, which said it reflected Australia’s anti-Russian sentiments.

Local media reported that a Russian diplomat moved into a temporary building on the site, but police were unable to arrest him because he had diplomatic immunity.

SBS News has reported that after the High Court rejected Moscow’s appeal to keep the site, the Russian departed.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government welcomed the High Court’s decision.

“We expect the Russian Federation to act in accordance with the court’s ruling,” he said.

Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on 24th February, 2022, relations between Moscow and Canberra have significantly declined.

One of the largest non-NATO contributors to the West’s support for Ukraine, Australia has been supplying aid, ammunition and defense equipment to Kyiv, and has banned exports of alumina and aluminum ores, including bauxite, to Russia.