From Russia, with love: ambassador Logvinov’s long relationship with The Australian

Russian ambassador to Australia Grigory Logvinov gives a shout-out to this august organ. Canberra, yesterday:

On the second issue (edition) of today’s Australian, you see a guy, very spyish looking, it’s actually a driver of the embassy.

Logvinov is a keen reader of The Australian. The Russian ambassador writes on his embassy’s website, last Friday:

I can’t ignore another intellectual product by Greg Sheridan flaunted on the pages of The Australian. It looks like both the author and the newspaper have completely moved into some kind of Russophobic Mirrorland …

This was the offending article from Greg Sheridan, The Australian, March 22:

(The poisonings of ex-spies on foreign soil) carry a powerful message to Russians — do not think for a moment that any of this, under any circumstances, can ever put you beyond the reach of Russian state power. The second powerful reason for Moscow … is to humiliate the West.

Logvinov’s response was moderate and reasonable. His comments on the embassy website, continued:

Isn’t it time for you to put the blame for bush fires in New South Wales on the hand of Moscow?

An aggressive comment that doesn’t prove Sheridan’s point at all. The Australian, March 22:

All autocracies need to terrify their opponents, especially their potential opponents.

But this comment is a real doozy. Logvinov, March 23:

Mr Greg Sheridan, you’re snobbishly declaring annexation of Crimea by Russia as a first territorial conquest since the post-war history of Europe. Of course, the opinion of 97% of peninsula population means nothing …

The Russians rolled in with tanks long before any Crimea referendum.

AFP, November 8, 2014:

Dozens of tanks and truckloads of soldiers crossed from Russia into Kremlin-backed rebel territory, Ukraine said overnight, as five servicemen were killed in fighting that made a mockery of a supposed ceasefire.

Logvinov has had issues with us for a long time. The Russian ambassador on his website, March 14:

Once The Australian provided its space for a dirty anti-Russian lampoon … This time the matter is the own opinion of the editorial board, that breathes thunder and lightning regarding the allegedly doubtless guilt of Russia for poisoning of Sergey Skripal …

We’re not too sure The Australian’s word limits reflect our feelings on the Russian Federation though. Logvinov on his website, February 15 last year:

However, suggested (sic) limiting it (a response to a “Russophobia” article) to 250 words when the material of my opponent made up more than 950 words makes me think, whether such imbalance was reflecting political sympathies of the newspaper …

But we look forward to hearing more from Logvinov. His comments on the embassy website, March 14:

The Australian’s editorial board peremptory accused Russia with everything. These are not double standards, it is the Orwell’s doublethink …

A subscriber is a subscriber after all. Logvinov on the embassy website, February 15 last year:

It is at least puzzling, that such a solid edition as The Australian accepted such a low-grade material, frankly …