Australia: Court denies bail to army private accused of spying for Russia

An Australian army private and her husband accused of spying for Russia were denied bail Friday on the first charges against suspected operatives under Australia's sweeping espionage laws enacted in 2018.

Kira Korolev, 40, and her husband Igor Korolev, 62, are Russian-born Australian citizens and hold Russian passports. They did not appear in person and were represented by lawyers in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on a charge each of preparing for an espionage offense.

They did not enter pleas and will appear next in a federal court on Sept. 20.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw had earlier told reporters the couple allegedly "worked together to access Australian Defense Force material that related to Australia's national security interests.

We allege they sought that information with the intention of providing it to Russian authorities. Whether that information was handed over remains a key focus of our investigation." Kershaw said.

While the couple are the fir