Moscow has sent a diplomat to “guard” the site as it pursues a ban on building a new embassy here.
A Russian diplomat has taken a piece of land in the middle of the Australian capital Canberry, where they plan to build the Russian embassy building. This was reported by the local edition of The Australian.
Australian intelligence agencies have previously warned that the Russians could use this building as a base for spying on local lawmakers, as it is located near the Australian Parliament. Ultimately, Canberra banned Moscow from building a new embassy in this part of the world.
Russia launched legal proceedings on Friday, June 23, to save the diplomatic mission project, and also took an unusual diplomatic gamble: sending an official who lived in an old portable house on the site.
The middle-aged man, dressed in sweatpants and a down jacket, was “a problem for Australian officials who fear to forcefully expel a Russian envoy,” the newspaper noted.
The AFP news agency, citing government sources, said the man had diplomatic protection, although he did not appear on the open list of Russian representatives in Australia.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the diplomat “some guy standing in the cold on the grass in Canberra”.
The head of the Australian government added that “the man does not threaten our national security.”
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.