Significant digital data in accused Russian spy case

Prosecutors of a married couple accused of spying on the Australian Defence Force for Russia need more time to examine multiple digital devices, a magistrate has heard. Australian Federal Police arrested 40-year-old Kira Korolev, a Russian-born Australian Army private, and 62-year-old Igor Korolev, a self-employed labourer, in Brisbane in July. The Korolevs were charged with one count each of preparing for an espionage offence and held in custody on remand. The couple's case was briefly mentioned on Friday in Brisbane Magistrates Court. The defendants did not appear in person or via videolink. Prosecutor Ellie McDonald asked Magistrate Peter Saggers for a future date to provide a brief of evidence against the couple. "There's a significant volume of material in this matter. There's 12 devices seized," she said. The Korolevs have been in Australia for about 10 years and were married when they arrived. Kira Korolev travelled to Russia without declaring it to authorities while on long-term leave from the defence force in 2023 and coached her husband to access her official work account, police allege. She allegedly guided her husband on how to access specific information and send it to her private email account while in Russia. Anastasia Stoenko, solicitor for Mr Korolev, did not oppose the application or apply for bail and neither did an agent for Ms Korolev's solicitor. Mr Saggers ordered a full brief of evidence be provided by December 13 and for the case to return to court on December 20. The couple have yet to enter pleas in response to their charges. Preparation for espionage offences carry a maximum sentence of 15 years behind bars.