The Australian Federation of Ukrainians Organisations (AFUO) has said the time has come for Australia to do what its European allies did in April 2022 after the Bucha atrocities were revealed, and kick out Russian diplomats and staff.
“Seven months of Russia’s terrorist actions in Ukraine should trigger every diplomatic tool available to Australia to condemn Russia. The Russian Ambassador, Alexey Pavlovksy, should not be allowed to hide behind diplomatic language and talk about the need for continued “dialogue and communication” when the facts are there for anyone to see,” said Mr Stefan Romaniw OAM, AFUO Co-Chair.
Russia’s war in Ukraine has:
- violated the UN Charter and numerous international obligations
- committed over 21,000 registered war crimes, involving sickening cases of murder, torture and rape
- killed thousands in indiscriminate bombing and shelling of civilian areas
- driven millions from their homes
- destroyed cities, villages and civilian infrastructure throughout Ukraine
- weaponised global food and energy supplies
- raised the spectre of a nuclear catastrophe
Mr Romaniw also indicated “The AFUO wrote to the PM in July reminding him that as Opposition Leader he called on the Australian Government after the Bucha massacres to expel Russian diplomats; that “sickening abuses being carried out by Russian forces” must trigger immediate consequences; and that Australia must act in lockstep with European partners by ordering Russian diplomats and staff to leave Australia.”
“We urge the PM to make good on these calls.”
“We agree with the Minister for Foreign Affairs that it’s time to consider expelling Pavlovsky.”
“Australia should do everything it can to impede the malign activities of Russian government representatives, whose only goal is to sow doubt and manipulate Australian public opinion about what Russia is doing in Ukraine.”
“By giving the Russian Ambassador the opportunity to ‘talk about our differences’ we are only creating a platform for Putin’s disinformation and propaganda, ” he added.
Countries that have expelled Russian diplomats and staff since February 2022:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- France
- Finland
- Germany
- Greece
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Montenegro
- The Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
Note: The UK expelled a significant number of Russian diplomats in 2018 following the poisonings of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, UK with the nerve agent, Novichok.
Image source: it.usembassy.gov
