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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Christopher Knaus

Russian squatter leaves Canberra embassy site after high court loss

A Russian official leaves the partially built new embassy near Parliament House in Canberra
A Russian official leaves the partially built new embassy near Parliament House in Canberra. Russia has lost its initial high court bid to hold on to the site. Photograph: Yoann Cambefort/AFP/Getty Images

Australia’s high court has dismissed Russia’s attempt to temporarily hold on to the site of its proposed new embassy in Canberra, describing its challenge to laws cancelling the lease as “weak” and “hard to understand”.

An hour after the ruling, a Russian official who had been squatting on the Yarralumla site left in a diplomatic vehicle. He didn’t say anything to waiting reporters.

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