Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tells Russians to ‘back off’ after its embassy said arrests of Kira Korolev, 40, and her husband Igor, 62 were Australian ‘paranoia’

Anthony Albanese has called on Russia to “stand down” and said he had “contempt” for the country after the Russian embassy accused security chiefs of stoking “anti-Russian paranoia” over an alleged spy couple accused of accessing classified defence information.

Two Russian-born Australians, Kira Korolev, 40, and her husband Igor, 62, were arrested in dramatic scenes on Thursday over an alleged espionage plot targeting the Defense Ministry, authorities highlighted concerns about spying and foreign interference.

The Russian embassy in Canberra on Saturday accused the Australian Federal Police and intelligence chiefs of stoking anti-Russian paranoia.

“The press conference by the leaders of AFP and ASIO on 12 July was clearly intended to unleash a new wave of anti-Russian paranoia in Australia,” the embassy said in a statement.

‘Theatrical tricks were used, such as talking to imaginary ‘Russian spies’, who were believed to be everywhere.’

However, the prime minister stated that Russia had no credibility and was engaged in espionage all over the world.

“Russia gets the message, so keep your head down,” Albanese said Saturday.

‘How about leaving Ukraine and ending the illegal and immoral war you are engaged in? And how about not interfering in the internal affairs of other sovereign countries?

“(Russia) is a country that has no respect for international law. They should be treated with contempt, and that’s what I have for them.”

The Embassy has requested to be informed in writing about the situation and status of the arrested duo and will consider appropriate measures for consular assistance.

Mr Albanese said he remains confident in Australia’s national security services’ screening processes.

“The threats to us are light-hearted,” he said.

“They are constantly trying to find ways to harm and thwart our national interests. That is why our agencies are constantly monitoring their performance.”

Two Russian-born Australians, Kira Korolev, 40, and her husband Igor (pictured centre), 62, were arrested in dramatic scenes on Thursday over an alleged espionage plot targeting the Defence Ministry.

The couple have each been charged with preparing an espionage offense, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.

The charges against them are eerily reminiscent of the television series The Americans, about two Russian spies who operated in Washington DC during the final years of the Cold War, posing as an ordinary suburban couple.

Australia has become more attractive to Russian spy services as Canberra expands security cooperation with the US following the signing of the AUKUS agreement, according to William Stoltz, senior adviser at the ANU’s National Security College.

“We also play an important role in the international sanctions policy against Russia. They want to gain insight into the military technology that we develop, but we may also try to support Ukraine in other ways.”

The fact that soldier Kira Korolev, 40, and her husband Igor, 62, are the first people to be charged under a 2018 national security law proves that the system works, the national security expert said.

The two Australians, who still hold Russian passports, remain in police custody after neither applied for bail in a Brisbane court on Friday.

According to the Australian Federal Police, there was no ongoing threat.

Police allege the soldier visited Russia during an extended leave in 2023 and trained her husband to access defense information through a computer.

The investigation is still ongoing to determine whether information was passed on. The charge may be upgraded from preparing espionage to a full-blown espionage offence.

The couple arrived in Australia about 10 years ago and were granted Australian citizenship several years later.

Police are investigating whether their alleged ties to Russia existed before their arrival, or whether they only made the move after arriving in Australia.

Police allege soldier Kira Korolev visited Russia during an extended leave in 2023 and coached her husband to access defense information via a computer

According to Dr. Stoltz, the pair had been under surveillance for some time, as intelligence agencies tend to “let things play out for a while to fully identify what network the target is connected to and what information they are trying to obtain.”

On Friday, ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess announced that the two have been Australian citizens since 2016 (the woman) and since 2020 (the man).

She had served in the Australian Army for “several years” as an information systems technician, he said.

It is the first time espionage charges have been filed since federal laws were enacted in 2018.