Millions of pieces of evidence collected in Brisbane Russian spy case
Kira Korolev, 41, and her husband Igor Korolev, 63, were taken into custody at their quiet Everton Park home on Brisbane's northside in July last year following a major Federal Police and ASIO foreign interference investigation.
Both face charges of preparing for an espionage offence, with the AFP alleging Kira Korelev, who held a role with the Australian army as an information systems technician, travelled to Russia while on leave and instructed her husband to send sensitive material from her work account so it could be shared with foreign authorities.
The curious case was heard with little fanfare between dozens of routine alleged crimes at Brisbane Magistrate Court on Friday morning.
Loading
Commonwealth prosecutor Ellie McDonald requested the case be delayed about three months, citing large quantities of evidence including documents that still required translation from Russian.
'We'll be seeking another lengthy adjournment,' she told the court.
'If I can indicate the scale of material in relation to this matter, there were originally 9 million items tagged on the devices … of which there were 12.'
McDonald confirmed a third brief of evidence was served this week.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

AU Financial Review
4 hours ago
- AU Financial Review
Fraud claim rocks Smorgon gold mine deal
Companies controlled by the powerful Victor Smorgon Group have been accused of running a dishonest and fraudulent scheme to invalidly acquire a stake in an Australian gold mine at a below-market price. The allegations, which have been strongly denied, were filed in the Federal Court by the Smorgon group's Chinese partners in the Stawell Gold Mine, and reveal a bitter battle for control of the Victorian project at a time of record high gold prices.


Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Exiled MP says asylum grant shows HK infringed rights
Exiled former Hong Kong MP Ted Hui has hailed Australia's grant of asylum status as a key acknowledgement of the territory's human rights infringements since its authorities quelled massive pro-democracy protests in 2019. Hui, who also urged support for businessman Jimmy Lai now being tried on national security charges, received asylum on Friday, more than four years after leaving Hong Kong, which has offered a bounty for him on criminal charges over the protests. "It is recognition by the Australian government that human rights infringements and erosion of democracy and freedom actually happened and justified granting asylum to people like me ... being persecuted because of the protests," Hui said. "I believe this is good for Australia to have that recognition and I am grateful for the country, which has given me so much," he told Reuters in an interview. China's foreign ministry on Monday said Hui was an "anti-China rioter wanted by the Hong Kong police" and urged other countries to "stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs". Australian visa data reviewed by Reuters showed it had approved no asylum claims by citizens of the Asian financial hub since January 2021, and rejected five in 2023. Hui, who is working as a lawyer in South Australia, said the good news for his family came in a week during which he was concerned over Hong Kong's trial of his friend, the pro-democracy businessman Lai, on national security charges. "Jimmy Lai is very iconic of Hong Kong's resistance because he actually had the ability to leave Hong Kong but he decided to stay," he said. "That is very noble of him." Before his arrest, Lai had described himself to Hui as being "like a captain of a ship" in support of democratic values and would "sink with the ship". Lai, 77, received medication and a heart monitor for the start of the trial's final submissions, prompted by health concerns aroused by heart palpitations. Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong raised concerns with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in a meeting in July about anonymous letters circulated in South Australia offering rewards for information about Hui and his family. The Australian Federal Police were investigating the matter, Hui said. A police spokesman declined to comment. After Hui and his family arrived in 2021, 123 Hong Kong citizens have made asylum claims in Australia. Many more have taken up skilled visas under a program launched in 2021 for Hong Kong citizens to stay permanently, data shows. The home affairs department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a statement, the government of Hong Kong, a former British colony, said it was "against the harbouring of criminals in any form by any country". Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters Beijing hoped Australia would work with China to ensure "sustained bilateral relations" when asked about the case at a regular press conference on Monday.


West Australian
6 hours ago
- West Australian
Kseniya Alexandrova: Former Russian Miss Universe contestant dies after car crash with elk
A former Miss Universe beauty pageant contestant who represented Russia on the world stage has died following a freak accident after an elk smashed through the windscreen of the car she was travelling in. Kseniya Alexandrova, 30, was rescued from the crash scene in the Russian town of Tver Oblast in July, before being diagnosed with severe brain injuries. Russian news sources have now reported that Ms Alexandrova succumbed to her injuries and passed away on August 12. Sitting in the passenger seat, Ms Alexandrova was being driven home by her husband on July 5 when the collision occurred. The animal surprised the couple by jumping onto the road before being hit by the car, smashing through the windscreen and into Ms Alexandrova. 'From the moment it jumped out to the impact, a split second passed. I didn't have time to do anything,' her husband told Russian outlet the Rossiyskaya Gazeta in a (translated) statement. 'Everything was covered in blood,' Ms Alexandrova's husband of four months explained before adding that she was rendered unconscious from the impact. Emergency services arrived on the scene 15 minutes after the crash, and the former Miss Universe contestant was transported to a Moscow hospital, but her injuries ultimately proved fatal. In addition to her modelling career, Ms Alexandrova was also a practising psychologist, having earned a degree from Moscow Pedagogical State University, according to her Instagram page. 'It is with great sadness that we inform you that our colleague and friend, model Kseniya Alexandrova, passed away yesterday evening,' Modeling agency Modus Vivendis, who represented her, confirmed in a statement on Instagram. 'Kseniya was bright [and] talented. She knew how to inspire, support and give warmth to everyone who was around. For us, she will forever remain a symbol of beauty, kindness and inner strength. 'We sincerely mourn and express our deepest condolences to her family, friends and everyone who had the good fortune to know Kseniya,' the statement added.