In the years-long dispute over a Russian embassy property in Australia’s capital Canberra, the Supreme Court has ruled that the government can reclaim the area for reasons of national security – but that Russia must compensate Russia for it.
November 12, 2025, 07:48November 12, 2025, 07:48
The background is a decision by the Australian government from 2023: At that time, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stopped the construction of a new Russian representation near the Australian Parliament building. “The government has received very clear security advice about the risks that a new Russian presence so close to the parliament building would have brought,” Albanese said at the time. Within hours, a law was passed banning Russia from using the property.
The Australians see Russia’s property near their own parliament as a security risk. (archive image)Image: keystone
Moscow spoke of “Russophobic hysteria” and sued the law that canceled the lease. The court now declared the move legal, but obliged the government to pay Russia “appropriate compensation” and cover half of the court costs, as the AAP news agency reported.
The property was leased to Russia in 2008. After the contract was canceled, a Russian official temporarily camped on the site to prevent it being taken back. (sda/dpa)