Russian-born couple charged with espionage in Australia

A married couple of Russian-born Australian citizens were arrested in Australia on Thursday morning on charges of espionage for Russia, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said on Friday.

“The AFP arrested a 40-year-old woman, who is an ADF [Australia Defense Force] Army Private, and a man, 62, a self-employed laborer, at their home in the Brisbane suburb of Everton Park on the morning of Thursday, 11 July 2024,” the police said in a statement.

The couple, who were later identified as Kira Korolev, and her husband, Igor Korolev, were each charged with one count of espionage “which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment,” for allegedly obtaining sensitive ADF information with the intention of distributing it to Russian authorities.

The classified information is related to Australia’s national security interests, but police are investigating if it has reached Russia.

“The AFP will allege that while on long-term leave from the ADF since 2023, the woman undertook non-declared travel to Russia with and without the man,” the police statement read. “The AFP will allege that while the man remained in Australia, the woman instructed him on how to log into her official work account, and guided him to access specific information to send directly to her private email account while she was in Russia.”

According to the Brisbane Times newspaper, Blake Fraser, the caretaker of the couple’s apartment block said the Korolevs did not act suspiciously, and he never saw anything unusual. 

Following proceedings at the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday, prosecutor Rachel Taylor described the accusations as serious and requested an adjournment to September 20, which the magistrates court granted.

Australian who sold info to foreign spies facing charges

This is not the first instance of espionage in Australia with foreign relations.

Alexander Csergo, a 55-year-old businessman who ordinarily resides abroad, was detained in the Sydney suburb of Bondi on April 14, 2023, for allegedly exchanging information with people working for a foreign intelligence service, according to a statement from the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

Csergo appeared in Parramatta local court via a video connection on the morning of April 15, 2023, on one count of reckless foreign interference, which carries a potential sentence of 15 years in prison. He is the Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce’s second arrest since the federal parliament approved the Espionage and Foreign Interference Act in 2018.

According to the AFP, Csergo, who has offices in Shanghai, China, as well as New South Wales and overseas, was approached via social media by an individual claiming to be from a think tank.

Csergo allegedly met with two people he knew as “Ken” and “Evelyn” who allegedly promised him money in exchange for information regarding Australian defense, economic, and national security procedures, as well as other nations.

According to the AFP, Csergo compiled a series of reports for them and was compensated between roughly February 1, 2021, and 14 April 14, 2023.

Authorities say “Ken” and “Evelyn” work for a foreign espionage service and were conducting surveillance activities.

Csero’s LinkedIn profile states he has worked in China for almost two decades in communications, corporate strategy, and marketing. He also claims to be an award-winning specialist in integrated communications, technology infrastructure, business strategy, and operational transformation.

Before moving to China, he worked for Telstra, Cellarmasters, and the Hyatt Hotels Corporation. 

The AFP disclosed that “Ken” and “Evelyn” may have approached other Australian nationals and residents, and have requested anybody with information to come forward.