Latest news with #KiraKorolev
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Millions of pieces of evidence collected in Brisbane Russian spy case
Federal prosecutors sifting through millions of pieces of evidence in the case against accused Russian spies have asked for more time, with many documents still yet to be translated into English more than a year after the couple were arrested in Brisbane. 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.
The Age
2 days ago
- The Age
Millions of pieces of evidence collected in Brisbane Russian spy case
Federal prosecutors sifting through millions of pieces of evidence in the case against accused Russian spies have asked for more time, with many documents still yet to be translated into English more than a year after the couple were arrested in Brisbane. Kira Korolev, 41, and her husband Igor Korolev, 63, were taken into custody at their quiet Everton Park home in Brisbane's inner-north 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.
Sydney Morning Herald
09-07-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Accused Russian-born spy allegedly worked for WA cleaning company that bragged of ‘government building' access
A Russian-born Australian soldier accused of spying for Russia worked for a company that boasted of its access to 'government buildings' in WA. Kira Korolev, 41, and her husband Igor Korolev, 63, were charged in Brisbane last year with preparing to carry out an act of espionage. Ms Korolev, 40, was an intelligence officer with the Australian Defence Force, and Mr Korolev, 62, was a self-employed labourer. WA Police documents have previously revealed both were registered security officers in WA years before their arrest – a process that requires either a WA or overseas police clearance. Ms Korolev also allegedly worked for a cleaning company based in Perth before moving interstate. She worked for Airlite, a Perth-based company shuttered after it was bought by national conglomerate Millenium Services Group in 2016. On its website in 2015, the company described itself as 'Western Australia's leading security, maintenance and integrated services provider'. 'Our long service history has seen Airlite provide cleaning operations to a variety of facilities including … government buildings, manufacturing and production plants, healthcare and medical facilities and general office environments,' the company website said.
The Age
09-07-2025
- The Age
Accused Russian-born spy allegedly worked for WA cleaning company that bragged of ‘government building' access
A Russian-born Australian soldier accused of spying for Russia worked for a company that boasted of its access to 'government buildings' in WA. Kira Korolev, 41, and her husband Igor Korolev, 63, were charged in Brisbane last year with preparing to carry out an act of espionage. Ms Korolev, 40, was an intelligence officer with the Australian Defence Force, and Mr Korolev, 62, was a self-employed labourer. WA Police documents have previously revealed both were registered security officers in WA years before their arrest – a process that requires either a WA or overseas police clearance. Ms Korolev also allegedly worked for a cleaning company based in Perth before moving interstate. She worked for Airlite, a Perth-based company shuttered after it was bought by national conglomerate Millenium Services Group in 2016. On its website in 2015, the company described itself as 'Western Australia's leading security, maintenance and integrated services provider'. 'Our long service history has seen Airlite provide cleaning operations to a variety of facilities including … government buildings, manufacturing and production plants, healthcare and medical facilities and general office environments,' the company website said.
