Alleged Russian spies Kira and Igor Korolev charged with new espionage offence

Accused Russian spies Kira and Igor Korolev have been charged with conspiracy to commit espionage after crown prosecutors applied to dismiss the couple's initial offence. The pair were arrested in 2024 for allegedly attempting to gather and send state secrets to Russia. What's next? The Korolev's matter will return to court in early August. Two Russian-born Australian citizens accused of attempting to spy for Russia have been charged with a more serious offence, with the initial offence dismissed. On Monday the Brisbane Magistrates Court married couple Kira and Igor Korolev appeared by video link side-by-side. Crown prosecutors presented a new bench charge for the couple of conspiracy to commit espionage. It's alleged the offence occurred between January 2023 and July 2024 in Brisbane and Russia. In 2024, they were arrested at their Brisbane home and charged over allegedly attempting to gather and send state secrets to Russia. Ms Korolev was an army private working as an Information Systems Technician at the time, the Australian Federal Police had said. She allegedly had taken long-term leave from the Australian Defence Force (ADF), before taking part in "non-declared travel" to Russia. The couple had initially each been charged with one count of preparing for an espionage offence, which carries a 15-year maximum sentence. The Brisbane Magistrates Court heard Crown prosecutors today asked the judge for that charged to be dismissed. Kira and Igor Korolev were remanded in custody with their matter adjourned until early August.