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“This is a country that has no respect for international law, and they should be regarded with contempt, which is what I have for them.”

The Russian embassy has requested the situation and status of the arrested duo in writing and said it would consider appropriate measures of consular assistance.

Albanese said he had faith in the screening processes of Australia’s national security agencies.

“The threats to us are nimble,” he said.

“They’re constantly trying to find ways to engage and to damage our national interest, and that’s why our agencies ensure that they are constantly monitoring their performance.”

Australia has become more attractive to Russian spy agencies as Canberra increases security collaboration with the United States after signing the AUKUS agreement, according to William Stoltz, a senior adviser with the Australian National University’s National Security College.

“We have been a key part in the international sanctions regime against Russia as well, so they would be seeking to understand the military technology we have in development but maybe even other ways we are seeking to support Ukraine.”

Stoltz said the fact the Korolevs were the first people charged under a 2018 national security law showed the system was working.

The two Australians, who retain Russian passports, remain in police custody after neither applied for bail during an appearance in a Brisbane court on Friday.

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There was no ongoing threat, the Australian Federal Police said.

Police allege the army private visited Russia while on long-term leave in 2023 and coached her husband into accessing defence information through the computer.

Investigations into whether information was passed on continue, with the prospect of charges being upgraded from preparing for espionage to an outright espionage offence.

The married couple arrived in Australia about 10 years ago and became citizens some years later.

Police are investigating whether their alleged links to Russia predate their arrival or they were allegedly turned after arriving in Australia.

Stoltz said the pair would have been monitored for some time as there was a tendency within the intelligence community to “let things run for a while to fully identify the network the target is connected with and what information they are trying to obtain”.

AAP

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