Russia accuses Australia of fomenting anti-Russian paranoia.
Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese called on Russia to stop interfering in the internal affairs of other sovereign states on Saturday.
– Russia is engaged in espionage here and around the world, Albanese told reporters in the city of Brisbane.
The comments came after Australia said on Friday it had arrested a Russian-born couple for working to obtain material related to Australia’s national security.
Russia responded by accusing Australia of fomenting anti-Russian paranoia.
– Accusations of an attempt to spy for Russia have spread widely about two citizens of Russia and Australia, commented the Russian embassy in Canberra, the capital of Australia, to the Russian state news agency RIA.
Australia is one of Ukraine’s biggest non-NATO backers. On Thursday, at the NATO summit in Washington, Australia announced a 150 million euro military aid package for Ukraine.
Sources: AFP, Reuters