Australia blocks construction of new Russian embassy

Australia on Thursday passed legislation aimed at preventing Russia from building an embassy near the country's parliament in Canberra.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the legislation would extinguish Russia's lease on the site based on the advice of security agencies. The bill was passed in both chambers of parliament less than two hours after being introduced.

The Australian government decided to act after Russia won a Federal Court case last month that prevented its eviction from the site now under construction.

The lease was canceled by local Canberra authorities on the basis of a lack of building activity since it was given the lease in the diplomatic precinct of Yarralumla in 2008.

Under the lease conditions, Russia had agreed to complete construction within three years, but the embassy remains partially built.