Sawt Falasteen - Australia charges married couple with spying for Russia

The 40-year-old woman Kira Korolev and her 62-year-old husband Igor -- both holders of Russian passports -- had lived in Australia for more than 10 years and obtained citizenship, the authorities said.

They were arrested at their home in Brisbane on Thursday and charged with "preparing for an espionage offence", federal police commissioner Reece Kershaw told a news conference.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years' imprisonment.

The accused woman was a private in the Australian defence force and had been working there for several years as an "information systems technician", Kershaw said.

She took "non-declared" travel to Russia during long-term leave from the military, he said.

While in Russia, she allegedly told her husband how to log into her official account at home.

"We allege her husband would access requested material and would send to his wife in Russia," Kershaw said.

"We allege they sought that information with the intention of providing it to Russian authorities," he added.

"Whether that information was handed over remains a key focus of our investigation."

Kershaw said that no "signficant compromise" had currently been identified, though police said the material was related to Australian national security interests.

Australia's Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partners -- the United States, Britain, Canada and New Zealand -- can be "confident" in its ability to disrupt foreign espionage, he said.

The police chief said the woman obtained citizenship in 2016 and her husband did so in 2020.

- Message to Russian spies -

The couple appeared separately in Brisbane's magistrates court on Friday for a brief mention, local media said.

Both were reportedly held in custody ahead of a court hearing in September.

The Russian embassy in Canberra was contacted by AFP for comment but did not immediately respond.

Australia's top spymaster Mike Burgess said security vetting was not a guarantee against espionage because "it depends on what you say".

"If you meet the requirements to get a security clearance, you will get a security clearance. But that does not mean to say the security journey stops at this point," he told journalists.

Burgess, director-general of the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), said the authorities were able to "intervene and control this operation".

Asked how the plot was uncovered, he would only say it was due to "defence awareness".

"This case reflects and demonstrates an effective security culture, not a deficient one," Burgess said.

The spy chief issued a direct appeal for Russian spies to come clean to the Australian authorities.

He recalled the 1954 defection of Soviet spies Vladimir and Evdokia Petrov to Australia, leading to the exposure of Russian intelligence assets internationally.

"I want to speak directly to the operatives of Russian intelligence services," Burgess said.

"This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Petrov defections," he said.

"If you want to share your secrets, please reach out. ASIO is always listening."

Burgess said Australia faced a real espionage threat, with multiple countries seeking to steal its secrets.

"Foreign intelligence services are capable, determined and patient. They play the long game. The problem for them is ASIO does too," Burgess warned.

"If you're conducting espionage in this country, we will detect you, and we will deal with you. Normally, that is through intelligence-led disruptions. But when we can support a prosecution, we will support a prosecution."

U.AlSharif--SF-PST