Is this mother from Australia really a Russian spy? ASIO agents raid the home of an unassuming municipal official accused of being a Kremlin operative – and take her away for questioning
- Marina Sologub interrogated and held in immigration detention
- She is accused of being a Russian spy by ASIO
- Sologub and her family say she is completely innocent
A mild-mannered Adelaide mother accused of being a Russian spy was dragged away from her family and questioned before being taken to a detention centre.
Marina Sologub, 39, lived in the western suburbs of the city with her husband and their teenage son until their home was raided by the Australian Security and Intelligence Organization (ASIO) on February 23 and her visa was cancelled.
The Kazakhstan-born ethnic Russian arrived in Australia in 2020 on a distinctive talent visa, having built a career in the aerospace industry in Ireland, where she lived most of her life.
She is currently being held at an immigration center in Melbourne pending a decision by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal on her visa, which is expected to be issued in July.
‘Of course I’m innocent. I have nothing to hide,” Ms Sologub told 7News from detention this week.
Marina Sologub (pictured) is being held in immigration detention and accused of being a Russian spy by ASIO
Ms Sologub arrived in Australia on a distinctive talent visa for her work in the aerospace sector. Her husband said their family is devastated by her arrest (pictured together)
The dramatic raid on her home was carried out by ASIO, Border Force and the Australian Federal Police.
ASIO is the only intelligence agency in the Five Eyes group – comprising the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – that can openly detain alleged spies for questioning without charge for 24 hours.
Her visa was canceled within those 24 hours and she was transported to immigration detention.
Ms Sologub most recently worked as a procurement consultant for Marion Council in Adelaide.
She was quickly brought to Australia on an ‘858 Distinctive Talent Visa’ due to her expertise in the aerospace sector.
The Australian Space Agency is based in Adelaide and the city is a hub for space research and development.
She had worked for the National Space Center in Ireland and was also working for consulting firm Deloitte on space projects when she first arrived in Australia.
Ms Sologub said she had worked with Russian individuals while doing her job for the Irish space agency, but denies being a Russian spy for the Kremlin.
“The whole situation is very devastating, for me, for (my) family, it’s breaking us apart,” she said.
‘If I were a Russian spy, the Australian government would certainly never invite me.
“I just feel powerless.”
The couple have a teenage son who is locked up with the family delirious Mrs. Sologub
Her visa has been canceled but she is appealing with a decision expected in July. She is not charged with any crime
Her visa was canceled by Secretary of the Interior Claire O’Neil after ASIO gave her a negative security assessment.
The Minister has the power to revoke individual visas if he believes an individual fails a character test and it is in the national interest.
Ms Solugub’s lawyer said it was difficult to challenge her case in the appeals court because ASIO provided very little information and it was up to her client to prove she is not a Russian spy.
She has not been charged with any criminal offense.
Her husband of two decades, Alexander Sologub, said their entire family was in a panic over her arrest.
“They didn’t knock, they smashed the door (during the robbery),” he said.
“We’re just ordinary people.”