Albanese Tells Russia to 'Back Off' Amid Spy Couple Accusations

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged Russia to "back off" following the arrest of two Russian-born Australians, Kira and Igor Korolev, on charges of espionage. The couple, who hold both Russian and Australian citizenship, are accused of attempting to steal sensitive material related to Australia's Defence Force for Russian intelligence. The arrests were made under new laws introduced in 2018, which carry a maximum sentence of 15 years per count.

The Russian embassy in Canberra has accused Australia's federal police and spy agencies of inciting anti-Russian paranoia. Prime Minister Albanese dismissed these claims and expressed confidence in Australia's national security agencies and their screening processes. The arrests come amid heightened tensions between Australia and Russia, with Australia being one of the largest non-NATO contributors to Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion. The couple remains in police custody as investigations continue.