Anthony Albanese calls for Scott Morrison to kick Russian diplomats out of Australia after Ukraine ‘war crimes’

In a major intervention in foreign affairs policy, Mr Albanese said Australia should be acting in accordance with the actions of European countries.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has demanded Scott Morrison kick all Russian diplomats out of the country after shocking accounts of rape and genocide in Ukraine.

In a major intervention in foreign affairs policy, Mr Albanese said Australia should be acting in accordance with the actions of European countries to expel diplomats.

“The mass killing of innocent civilians and the use of rape as a weapon of war can only be described as war crimes,’’ Mr Albanese said.

“Those responsible must be held to account – and in the first instance there must be immediate diplomatic consequences.

“Labor supports all efforts to ensure these crimes are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted through the International Criminal Court process, including the provision of Australian experts to assist the investigation.”

Anthony Albanese called for Russian diplomats to be kicked out of Australia.

Last month, Ukraine’s Embassy Chargé d’Affaires to Australia Volodymyr Shalkivskyi spoke at the National Press Club and urged Australia to expel the Russian diplomats.

“When you have more than 50 children killed in your country due to the shelling, yes, I’d like the Russia ambassador to be expelled,” he told the press club.

Four years ago, Australia expelled two Russian diplomats as part of global action against Moscow over an alleged nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy living in the UK.

The Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, and then foreign minister, Julie Bishop, said the two Russian “diplomats” had been identified as undeclared intelligence officers and would be ordered to leave Australia within seven days.

But despite the atrocities in Ukraine, Australia has not yet joined with the European nations and expelled diplomats.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Picture: Mikhail Klimentyev/SPUTNIK/AFP

Russia has been accused of committing horrific war crimes in the Ukrainian town of Bucha, pictured above (Photo by Genya SAVILOV / AFP)

Mr Albanese urged the Prime Minister to act as a matter of urgency.

“Given the reported atrocities by Russian forces in Ukraine, I call on the Morrison Government to expel Russian diplomats, in lock-step with European partners,’’ he said.

“In recent days, EU countries, including France, Germany and Italy have taken steps to expel 206 Russian diplomat and staff – while allowing Ambassadors to remain in most cases. Australia should follow suit.

“Foreign Minister Marise Payne has said that the matter is being kept “under review… at the highest levels of the Government.”

“It is hard to conceive how the decision can be made to allow these individuals to stay, given the sickening abuses being carried out by Russian forces.”