MPs enjoy dinner date with Russian envoy
A Greens senator, a NSW Liberal minister and the president of the NSW Liberal Party dined with Russian envoy Alexey Pavlovsky at an event in Sydney.
A Greens senator, a NSW Liberal minister and the president of the NSW Liberal Party dined with the Russian ambassador at an event in Sydney this month, a week after Vladimir Putin issued his nuclear threat against Ukraine.
The Australian can reveal that the senior politicians included Greens justice spokesman David Shoebridge, NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure and former federal Coalition minister and NSW party president Philip Ruddock.
It is understood that two NSW Labor MPs, Lynda Voltz and Shaoquett Moselmane, also attended the dinner, hosted by the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils on October 1 in Sydney.
Senator Shoebridge and Mr Coure claim to have been blindsided by the attendance of Russian ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky, who had been invited by the AFIC to attend its annual congress dinner.
Mr Ruddock had also been unaware that he had been placed at the table with Mr Pavlovsky until he learned later that the Russian diplomat had been sitting opposite him.
The organisation defended its decision to invite Mr Pavlovsky, saying he was a diplomat recognised by the Australian government.
Diplomats from four other missions attended the dinner. However, the Ukrainian ambassador was not invited.
It is understood that Senator Shoebridge had been unaware prior to the event that he was to be seated next to the Russian ambassador.
The senator’s office subsequently called the office of the AFIC to raise its concerns about the Russian ambassador being invited.
Senator Shoebridge said he was “extremely surprised” that the Russian ambassador was there.
“Given recent aggressive actions by Russia, inviting their ambassador to community events is deeply concerning,” Mr Shoebridge told The Australian.
Mr Coure and Mr Ruddock were seated at the same table.
In Canberra, there is now an established but unofficial practice among the diplomatic corps that, if the Russian ambassador is invited to a diplomatic event, then those representatives of countries aligned to Ukraine promptly leave when he arrives.
The federal government is resisting pressure to expel Russian diplomats, although Foreign Minister Penny Wong said three weeks ago that such a move was under consideration.
Mr Coure told The Australian that he had been unaware that Mr Pavlovsky was to be a guest at the same table.
“I was disappointed that AFIC invited the Russian ambassador to their annual congress dinner,” Mr Coure said.
“I wasn’t aware that the ambassador would be in attendance. NSW stands in solidarity with Ukraine as they fight to liberate their country from Putin and the illegal Russian occupation.
“I urge all community organisations to reflect on the crimes, violence and suffering perpetrated by the Russian government before inviting its representatives to events, particularly considering the distress that it may cause for the Ukrainian community in NSW.”
Keysar Trad, the chief executive of the AFIC, defended the organisation’s decision to invite the Russian ambassador, claiming that the Australian government recognises the Russian mission in Australia.
“As a religious body that reaches out far and wide we strive to make sure that we are the peacemakers,” Mr Trad told The Australian.
He said he did not expect the invitation of the Russian ambassador to be controversial.
“To be honest, not at all, we didn’t go and invite someone who is not desirable in Australia,” he said. “We invited someone who is recognised by the Department of Foreign Affairs, who has a mission in Australia and Australia clearly has diplomatic relations with Russia.
“We were very upset with Russia when it was supporting the Assad regime in Syria, and we have screamed out about the double standards – the world remained silent when the killings took place in Syria.
“So the silver lining on this controversy that was not intended is that it allows an opportunity to see the double standards – how we don’t treat all human beings as equal.”
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