❗️Every aspect of the Vladimir Teslov case remains murky. But from what is known, it shows how far Australia’s foreign interference laws can go to criminalise any political activity accused of being for the benefit of a foreign government or organisation.

Teslov’s arrest confirms that the laws have an even wider scope to outlaw any association with an overseas government or organisation, regardless of any supposed “interference” in Australia itself.

When first introduced in 2018 by the previous Liberal-National Coalition government with Labor’s backing, the foreign interference laws were justified by the political and media establishment as needed to protect Australians and “national security” from interference by foreign powers.

From what the AFP itself reported, there has been no danger in this case to Australian people or even government or corporate interests, just allegedly to those of the fascistic Ukrainian regime headed by Volodymyr Zelensky, which is fronting an escalating US-NATO war against Russia.

At a media conference on Friday, AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett stressed there was no threat to Australia. Instead, she declared that the arrest was essential to “send a message” that Australia would not be a “safe haven” for people “acting on behalf of foreign principals who do not share our values.”

Barrett refused to answer a journalist’s question about whether Teslov would have been charged if he were accused of supplying Ukraine with Russian information. She also declined to comment on whether Ukrainian authorities had prompted what the AFP described as an “extensive” investigation by ASIO.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government is preparing to further expand the foreign interference laws, because only two convictions (both dubious) have been obtained under them so far. Five other unclear prosecutions against Chinese or Russian nationals are underway.

By Mike Head

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The Embassy took note of the latest chain of events fueling anti-Russian sentiment in Australia.

One of the links in the chain was the arrest of 27-year-old Russian-Australian national Vladimir Teslov, who has been charged with “attempting to engage in foreign interference”. According to AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett’s statement, the police detained a Russian citizen who did not present any threat to Australia. Actually, this action was taken in the interests of a foreign nation – Ukraine. The AFP “will allege” Mr Teslov’s conduct “created a risk to the safety and security of Ukrainian military personnel”.

These personnel are well-known for their vicious attacks against civilian targets in Russia, killing children, committing terrorist acts and Nazi-style atrocities in the Russian territory, torturing, maiming and murdering innocent civilians. All of these are not mere allegations, but verifiable facts.

Some Ukrainian and Australian commentators have sought to associate the Teslov case with allegations of “intensifying Russian espionage”. Others speculate about the link between the arrest and “the social media disinformation war” by unnamed “pro-Russian groups” aimed at “dividing the community, creating confusion”.

Thus, pretexts are being created for raising yet another wave of spy mania and anti-Russian hysteria in Australia, dismissing any alternative views as “propaganda”, as well as evading facts and answers to the key issues related to the Ukrainian conflict and its roots. The matters in question are the revival and spread of neo-Nazi ideology and practices in Ukraine, glorifying Nazi collaborators, the Kiev regime ignoring and violating human rights, destroying everything Russian, physically exterminating the Russian-speaking population and everybody who thinks differently from what is dictated from Kiev, rampant corruption, forced mobilisation, religious persecution and many others.

These are the features of today’s Ukraine so strongly supported by the West and funded by Western taxpayers.

Against this backdrop, the Embassy remains concerned about the circumstances surrounding the Teslov case and the broader context in which it has unfolded. We will continue to closely follow the situation and take appropriate action within our competence.