Quite why a Russian embassy near Capital Hill in Canberra would be ‘a thtreat to National Security’ isn’t made clear. As for “[Russia]’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine shows its contempt for the rule of law, for national sovereignty and for the way that it conducts its affairs”, has Albo said anything about the U.S. doing exactly the same thing in Syria and, 20 years ago, in Iraq? Of course not; the Globalist narrative in support of the American Empire has to be maintained by willfully ingorant politicians on both sides of the Tasman.
The man is defying new emergency laws designed to block Russia from using the site, which is near Capital Hill, as a second embassy.
Although his identity is not known, he is being monitored closely by Australian Federal Police at the Yarralumla site, occasionally leaving the small unit to smoke cigarettes and collect food deliveries.
“The national security threat that was represented by a Russian Embassy on-site is not the same as some bloke standing on a blade of grass that we don’t see as a threat to our national security.”
The diplomatic stoush first became apparent last week, when the Prime Minister called a snap press conference to introduce emergency legislation to block Russia developing on the site.
The National Capital Authority had tried to terminate and evict the embassy from the site, but the Federal Court ruled that was invalid, forcing the government’s hand.
In a press conference, Mr Albanese flippantly referred to the man as a “bloke standing in the cold on a bit of grass”, before taking a swipe at Russia’s recent record when it comes to the law.
“Russia has abrogated its responsibility as a nation state, and particularly as a member of the Security Council,” he told reporters.
“Their illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine shows its contempt for the rule of law, for national sovereignty and for the way that it conducts its affairs.
“Australia will stand up for our values and we will stand up for our national security, and a bloke standing in the cold on a bit of grass in Canberra is not a threat to our national security.”
The Russian man cannot be removed from the site because he has diplomatic immunity, but Mr Albanese is confident it can get a desired outcome.