Australia said Friday it had arrested a Russian couple on espionage charges, alleging the woman, who was an information systems technician in the Australian military, tried to gain access to defense materials and send them to Russian officials, reports "Reuters", quoted by News.bg.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said the couple, who hold Australian citizenship, had worked to gain access to material related to Australia's national security, although no significant compromise had yet been established.
"We allege that they sought this information with the intention of providing it to Russian authorities," Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said during a media briefing.
"Whether this information was passed on remains a key focus of our investigation."
Police said the 40-year-old woman traveled to Russia and instructed her husband in Australia to log into her official account to access defense material.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has warned anyone considering acting against Australia's national security.
"People who interfere with our national interests will be held accountable, and that is what these arrests represent," Albanese told reporters.
Igor and Kira Korolevy appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court, court documents show, after being charged with one count of preparing for an espionage offence, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The charges are the first under the new laws introduced in 2018.
They did not request bail and were remanded in custody until September 20, when they are due in court, media reported.
The couple have lived in Australia for more than 10 years, with the woman receiving Australian citizenship in 2016 and her husband in 2020.
The arrests come as Australia on Thursday unveiled a A$250 million military aid package ($169 million) for Ukraine at a NATO summit in Washington, the largest ever aid package to the country since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.