Anthony Albanese reacts as Russian diplomat found illegally squatting

The Australian government is considering its options as a Russian diplomat illegally squats on a parcel of land no longer owned by Vladimir Putin.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has downplayed any national security risks posed by a Russian diplomat illegally squatting on the site formerly proposed to house the country’s new embassy in Canberra.

The man, who has diplomatic immunity and cannot be arrested, remains on the site in defiance of new laws rushed through the parliament last week.

Last week, the government rammed legislation through parliament to block the Kremlin’s access to the block of land it had leased in Yarralumla, less than a kilometre from Parliament House, on national security grounds.

The man has camped out on the disputed site of the Russian Embassy for several days. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The squatter on the disputed new Russian Embassy site in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The laws have invalidated Russia’s lease for the new site, making the diplomat — who was photographed at the site on Thursday dressed in casual attire and nonchalantly smoking a cigarette — an illegal squatter.

Mr Albanese on Friday morning confirmed the Russian diplomat was squatting on the site after his presence was first reported by The Australian newspaper the previous evening.

He ridiculed the diplomat, saying that unlike the proposed embassy, he did not consider him to be a threat to Australia’s national security.

“The national security threat that was represented by a Russian embassy on-site is not the same as some bloke standing on a blade of grass. We don’t see as a threat to our national security,” Mr Albanese said.

The man was seen smoking on the Russian Embassy in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The man, who has diplomatic immunity and cannot be arrested, remains on the site in defiance of new laws rushed through the parliament last week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Squatter on the Russian Embassy in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Albanese would not say when the government became aware the squatter was there, but he said he was confident the issue would be resolved.

One way the government could remove the man would be to deem him “persona non grata”, thereby asking Russia to recall him. If the recall is ignored, Australia could cease to regard him as a diplomat, which would nullify his diplomatic immunity.

Mr Albanese would not be drawn on whether that was an option the government was considering but conceded it had anticipated Russia “would not be happy” with the decision to block their access to the new embassy site.

“We are confident of our legal position and our national security committee anticipated Russia would not be happy – we expected that, but we’re confident of our position and processes are under way for the Commonwealth to formalise possession of the site,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the government isn’t concerned about the squatter. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The federal government is preparing for a potential High Court challenge by the Russian Federation against the decision to make laws preventing it from using the Yarralumla site.

Russia is expected to file an injunction in the High Court to give it more time to prepare to lodge a more formal case, as long as the court agrees to hear it.

Mr Albanese brushed off concerns about the potential legal action.

“Now, we actually support the law. Russia has not been really good at the law lately,” he said.

“Their illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine shows its contempt for the rule of law, for national sovereignty and for the way that it conducts its affairs.

“Australia will stand up for our values and we will stand up for our national security.”

Government officials were expected Russia to file the injunction in the High Court on Thursday but it’s understood nothing had been filed by the time Mr Albanese’s press conference wrapped up on Friday morning.

The existing Russian embassy has not been affected by the new legislation. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The legislation to bar the Kremlin’s plans for its new embassy was rushed through parliament after the Federal Court found an order by the National Capital Authority for Russia to vacate the site to be invalid.

Mr Albanese said last week the government had received “clear national security advice” that the proximity of the parcel of land to parliament could enable “potential interference” by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoys to Australia.

The Russian government bought the lease for the site in 2008, and had its plans approved in 2011 – but had failed to progress the works before last week’s legislation was enacted.

The existing Russian embassy site in the Canberra suburb of Griffith has not been affected by the new legislation

Asked on Friday why Russia had been allowed to purchase the lease for the new site in the first place, Mr Albanese said: “I’m not responsible for 2008, but the world was different in 2008”.

Different it may have been, but in August 2008, Russia, under Mr Putin, and Russian-backed separatists waged war in Georgia.

Mr Albanese said people would “have to look at that process that occurred” at the time.