Russia slams Australia for terminating lease agreement for its new embassy building site

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Tuesday slammed Australia's decision to terminate the lease agreement for a plot in the Yarralumla metropolitan area where a new complex of the Russian Embassy was being built.

Zakharova said in a statement that Australian Ambassador Graeme Leslie Meehan was summoned to the ministry and conveyed a strong protest over the Australian authorities’ actions.

The spokeswoman said Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko has warned the Australian envoy about possible retaliatory measures based on the principle of reciprocity.

Zakharova questioned the legality of the Australian authorities' actions, noting that lawyers representing Russia filed an appeal with the High Court of Australia, asking for the law passed on June 15 to be declared invalid because it violates the country's constitution.

The dispute escalated last August when Australia’s National Capital Authority requested the Russian diplomats to vacate the site.

However, Russians successfully challenged the authority's decision in an Australian federal court.

It prompted the Australian government to propose and pass a new law "to permanently stop the construction of a new embassy building."