Everything we know about Igor and Kira Korolev being charged with espionage in Brisbane

A Russian-born Brisbane couple have become the first in Australia to be charged with espionage offences. This is everything we know.

Accused Russian spies Igor and Kira Korolev.

A Russian-born Brisbane couple have become the first in Australia to be charged with espionage offences after authorities allegedly caught the wife – a private in the Australian Defence Force – trying to pass information back to the Kremlin.

Igor and Kira Korolev were listed to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today after they were arrested as part of a complex investigation involving the Australian Federal Police and ASIO.

This is everything we know so far >>>

What is the timeline of events?

Police on Wednesday night swarmed the Brisbane unit complex where the Korolevs own a modern two-bedroom apartment.

“We assumed it was nothing, maybe another break-in, but then woke up the next day and saw a bunch of police,” neighbour Tristen McKenzie said.

The unit – on the top floor of a unit block at the back of the complex – had its outdoor blinds drawn on Friday morning.

Two AFP vehicles remained at the scene, but no officers were present.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said the counter foreign interference taskforce, which includes AFP, ASIO and other Commonwealth partners, had investigated the couple’s activities.

The AFP have alleged that Kira secretly travelled to Russia while on long-term leave from the army and had told her husband how to log onto her work account in order to access information.

He is then alleged to have passed that information to her while she was in Russia.

In August the AFP seized the home and other assets belonging to the two Russian-born Australian citizens.

The AFP-led Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) was seeking to confiscate the married couple’s apartment and financial savings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth).

Who are Igor and Kira Korolev?

The married couple have been in Australia for more than 10 years, with Igor a 62-year-old labourer, and Kira a 40-year-old information systems technician with the ADF.

Kira received her Australian citizenship in 2016 and Igor in 2020. The pair is believed to have been living together in a large unit complex in Everton Park, in Brisbane’s north, about 10 minutes’ drive from the ADF’s Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera.

The couple was living in a nondescript unit complex in one of the city’s northern suburbs known for its family-orientated and quiet lifestyle.

Buying the two-bedroom apartment for $360,0000 in Everton Park’s Flockton St in June 2021, Igor and Kira Korolev lived a 10-minute drive from Enoggera Barracks where she was an information systems technician for the Australian Defence Force, ranked Private.

It was revealed that Kira talked about the negative aspects of migrating to Australia in a YouTube channel where she posted videos fossicking for gold on the Fraser Coast, swimming at Noosa and visiting the Devil’s Marbles in the Northern Territory.

“In today’s video we will discuss the difficulties of immigration and adaptation in Australia, some of the disadvantages of living here and ask the question: who might not want to move?,” she said in one video.

It was also revealed Kira asked how soon her husband might join her and how quickly she could progress to the rank of officer when seeking career advice from the Australian Defence Force eight years ago.

A neighbour of the couple when they were arrested, Andrew, who has lived in the complex for about 10 years, said Igor always seemed very friendly and always waved hello.

Ms Korolev posted photos online in 2020 after getting her hair cut on the Gold Coast.

“In the morning I saw a lot of AFP and then when I tried to go into the building … the police refused me to go in there,” he said.

“And then in the evening there were still lights in the apartment, and they were still going on.

“I saw him a few times, he said hello and was friendly, and I’d say hello back to him.

“I’m pretty surprised.”

Andrew said there’s a lot of military people in the complex.

It is understood the couple previously lived in Western Australia and were both listed on WA Police list of registered security officers.

What have they been charged with?

Igor and Kira Korolev were listed to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday, July 12 after they were arrested as part of a complex investigation involving the Australian Federal Police and ASIO.

If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 15 years behind bars.

Kira Korolev was charged with espionage in July.

The AFP have alleged that Kira secretly travelled to Russia while on long-term leave from the army and had told her husband how to log onto her work account in order to access information.

He is then alleged to have passed that information to her while she was in Russia.

The married couple, who have been in Australia for more than 10 years, have been charged with one count each of preparing for an espionage offence.

What happened in court?

Mr Korolev appeared unfazed when he appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court barefoot on Friday morning.

The stout Russian sat upright and cracked his knuckles several times as his Legal Aid lawyer Rachael Martin explained there would be no bail application.

Igor nodded and mouthed OK when this was explained to him in Russian by an interpreter appearing by phone.

He wore a green prison jumper and blue track pants with his grey hair buzzcut.

The matter was adjourned to September 20 in Brisbane Magistrates Court.

Mr Kershaw said the taskforce would investigate if the woman joined the ADF with the specific intention of espionage.

He said the woman had allegedly been “misleading” about her travel and what country she was in.

He said the couple had Russian passports.

Kira Korolev had her matter mentioned briefly in court but did not appear in person.

There was no application for bail and her Legal Aid lawyer asked the matter be adjourned for the prosecution brief to be disclosed.

Barrister Rachael Taylor, acting for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, said the charge was a serious one and asked the matter be adjourned to September 20.

Barrister Dylan Kerr, appearing on behalf of the Australian Federal Police Commissioner, made an urgent application to suppress a number of identities on national security grounds.

What has been the response?

ASIO Director General Mike Burgess said the ADF’s “early awareness” of a potential security threat had allowed them to “intervene early and control the operation”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had been briefed extensively on the operation.

“They have outlined the details. Because the matters are before the courts, I won’t make further comments except to say this: that Australia’s security agencies are doing their job and they’re doing it well.

“I think we have a great deal of confidence in the fact that our agencies do their job and they do it very well.”

However he did Anthony Albanese send a firm message to Russia.

“Russia can get the message, back off,” he said.

The Australian Defence Force released a statement about the arrest.

“In response to serious allegations, it is general practice to suspend an ADF member from service, including immediately cancelling the member’s access to Defence bases and ICT systems,” the statement read.

“Defence continues to work with the counter foreign interference taskforce.

“As this matter is before the courts and due to personal privacy obligations, Defence will not make further comment.”

A neighbour of the couple, tenant Nikki Spalding – who lived directly below the couple’s unit – said she had never seen them.

“It’s pretty scary … the fact I’ve never seen those people,” Ms Spalding said.

“I left for work yesterday morning and noticed there were undercover police all downstairs in the complex.”