Australia Moves to Block Russian Plan to Build New Embassy Near Parliament
- Government will legislate to cancel controversial site lease
- Albanese says decision made over ‘clear’ security concerns
Parliament House in Canberra.
Photographer: Rohan Thomson/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Australia’s government will intervene to block the construction of a new Russian embassy in its capital Canberra, potentially ending a long-running clash between the two sides over a controversial land lease.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he would introduce legislation on Thursday to cancel the Russian government’s lease on a block of land close to the Australian Parliament, where Moscow intended to build a new embassy. It’s expected to pass within 24 hours with bipartisan support, he said.