Australia’s ambassador in Moscow has been summoned by the Russian government after officials in Canberra cited security concerns for cancelling the lease on a block of land for a proposed Russian embassy.
“The Russian side intends to use all necessary mechanisms to protect its interests, including possible retaliatory measures,” the foreign ministry in Moscow said.
The Federal Court in May overruled a decision by the National Capital Authority to evict Russia from the Yarralumla site where a new embassy complex was to be built within 500 metres of Parliament House.
The government, with the backing of the coalition opposition, rushed legislation through both houses of parliament on Thursday to halt the building of the embassy, in a move that passed in a little more than an hour.
“Today’s decision is one taken in the national security interests of Australia,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters on Thursday.
“The government has received very clear security advice as to the risks presented by a new Russian presence so close to Parliament House.”
Russian officials said in a statement that ambassador Graeme Meehan had been summoned by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko on Friday to strongly protest the Australian government’s decision to terminate the lease.
“We emphasised that we view this as a blatantly politicised and unfriendly move aimed at further damaging the bilateral relations which, thanks to the efforts of Canberra, are at an all-time low,” the Russian foreign ministry said.
Russia’s existing embassy in the Canberra suburb of Griffith is not affected by the dispute.
The National Capital Authority granted the lease for the Yarralumla site in December 2008 and building approvals followed in 2011.
Under the lease conditions, Russia had agreed to finish construction within three years but the building remains partially built.
The authority decided to terminate the lease, saying “ongoing unfinished works detract from the overall aesthetic, importance and dignity of the area reserved for diplomatic missions”.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said on Thursday the government had made a decision not to allow the site to be used for a future diplomatic presence by any country.
“The government has received clear national security advice that this would be a threat to our national security,” she said.
“That is why the government is acting decisively today to bring this long-standing matter to a close.”
“The Australian government maintains diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation but we will always, always act in Australia’s national interest,” Ms O’Neil said.
Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie said the coalition would stand with the government on the issue of national security.
“Russia has not acted in good faith towards its neighbours in recent times… it continues its campaign (in Ukraine) trashing the principles of territorial and political sovereignty,” he said.
“There is a trust deficit, there is a real risk to our national interest here and the security advice is that this lease must be terminated.”
Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said legal action had led to the laws being necessary.
“It is important on sensitive national security issues like this, that in the national interest we come together to resolve these issues,” he said.
— AAP with Reuters
