Russia suffered a legal setback Monday over the construction site for its new embassy near Australia’s Parliament. The Supreme Court gave Canberra the green light to seize the land on which it was to be built.
In mid-June, Australia took sweeping legal action to prevent Moscow from building its new embassy a stone’s throw from Parliament after intelligence agencies warned of the danger of espionage.
Last week, Russia filed a lawsuit to keep the land and posted a Russian official at the site of the prospective construction site until the case was decided.
Australia’s Supreme Court, the country’s highest court, ruled Monday morning, ordering Russia to leave the site at least until the case is referred back to the court for further legal arguments. Detailed.
The diplomat present at the scene was seen driving away in a diplomatic car shortly after the court ruling.
“The court clarified that there was no legal basis for maintaining a Russian presence on the ground at the time,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters.
“We expect the Russian Federation to act in accordance with the court’s decision.”
Russia acquired the lease on this piece of land, some 400 meters from Parliament in Canberra, in 2008 and received approval in 2011 to proceed with the construction of its new embassy.
In August 2022, the government tried to terminate the lease for failure to comply with certain clauses in the building permit, but that decision was overturned by the federal judiciary last May.
Last week, the Australian government passed new legislation specifically aimed at blocking construction, ending that deal.
This new law, passed with opposition support, does not prevent Russia from having a diplomatic presence in Australia, only building so close to Parliament.
“The government has been given very clear safety instructions about the risk posed by a new Russian presence so close to Parliament,” Albanese said.
“We are acting quickly to ensure that the leased premises do not become an official diplomatic presence,” the prime minister said.