INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Australian police have charged a married Russian-born couple with spying for Moscow, top officials said Friday, accusing them of accessing
home in Brisbane on Thursday and charged with "preparing for an espionage offense," federal police commissioner Reece Kershaw told a news
and had been working there for several years as an information systems technician, Kershaw said.She took "non-declared" travel to Russia
during long-term leave from the military, he said.While in Russia, she allegedly told her husband, a self-employed laborer, how to log into
her official account at home in Australia."We allege her husband would access requested material and would send to his wife in Russia,"
Kershaw said."We allege they sought that information with the intention of providing it to Russian authorities," he added."Whether that
information was handed over remains a key focus of our investigation."Kershaw said no "significant compromise" had yet been identified,
chief said the woman obtained citizenship in 2016 and her husband did so in 2020.The couple appeared separately in Brisbane's magistrates
court on Friday for a brief mention, a court official said.Both were ordered to be held in custody ahead of a court hearing on Sept
20.Plot uncoveredThe Russian embassy in Canberra was contacted by AFP for comment but did not immediately respond.At a press briefing later
in the day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said only that he had no detailed information about the case."Yes, for us, they are Russian
citizens, but they have always lived there, in Australia, so we don't have details about that, and I can't tell you anything," he
said.Australia's top spymaster Mike Burgess said security vetting was not a guarantee against espionage because "it depends on what you
say.""If you meet the requirements to get a security clearance, you will get a security clearance
But that does not mean to say the security journey stops at this point," he told journalists.Burgess, director-general of the Australian
Security and Intelligence Organization (ASIO), said the authorities were able to "intervene and control this operation."Asked how the plot
was uncovered, he would only say it was due to "defense awareness."There was a wide range of sensitive information in defense that would be
of interest to the Russian intelligence services, he said."This case reflects and demonstrates an effective security culture, not a
deficient one," Burgess said.The spy chief issued a direct appeal for Russian spies to come clean to the Australian authorities.Message to
intelligence assets internationally."I want to speak directly to the operatives of Russian intelligence services," Burgess said."This year
marks the 70th anniversary of the Petrov defections," he said."If you want to share your secrets, please reach out
ASIO is always listening."Burgess said Australia faced a real espionage threat, with multiple countries seeking to steal its
secrets."Foreign intelligence services are capable, determined and patient
The problem for them is ASIO does too," Burgess warned.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had been "extensively" briefed on the spy
case."Australia's security agencies are doing their job and they are doing it well
People will be held to account who interfere with our national interests," he said.
