‘Badge of Honour’: Australian Author Blacklisted by Kremlin, Denied Access to Russia

People walk along a shopping street near the gates of Kremlin in Moscow, in a file photo. (Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

The Russian government has indefinitely banned 48 Australian citizens from entering Russia on the grounds of “creating anti-Russian agenda” in Australia, including individuals involved in the military-industrial industry and journalists.

Paul Monk, a former intelligence analyst, author, and current contributor for The Australian newspaper, has expressed feeling honoured to be among those sanctioned. The prominent Australian, who is an Order of Australia recipient in recognition of his distinguished service to Australia, has been vocally critical of the Russian regime and President Vladimir Putin.

“I am officially sanctioned by the Putin regime for ‘Russophobia.’ In all the circumstances, that’s an honour more proudly worn than an AO,” Monk wrote in a LinkedIn post in response to the Kremlin’s list of persona non grata.

“However, the good people who arranged this plainly know very little about me, describing me as a journalist at The Australian. They plainly haven’t done any serious homework on me.

“Never mind, they’ve honored me anyway!”

Paul Monk, former senior intelligence analyst for Australia's Defence Intelligence Organization speaks on Chinese Communist Party influence on Australian politics at the Perth Yacht Club, Western Australia, on Aug. 12, 2018. (Brendon Fallon/The Epoch Times)

The list also includes nine highly ranked executives from engineering firm SYPAQ, which is partnered with the Australian Defence, and 16 top executives from Thales Australia, a defence contracting company.

Thales Australia, a subsidiary of French defence company Thales Group, was recently granted a $160 million (US$107 million) contract by the federal government to deliver 78 Bushmaster military vehicles for the Australian Defence Force.

The contract will restore Australia’s domestic capabilities after the government provided the Ukrainian forces with 90 Bushmasters, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has praised for performing “masterfully” in battle.

The vehicle is described as blast resistant, using an armoured V-shaped hull to protect up to 10 passengers from landmines and other explosive devices and small arms fire. It is fully airconditioned and can run self-sustained for up to three days.

Ukrainian servicemen of the 80th Air Assault Brigade stand in front of a Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle near Bahmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Feb. 16, 2023. (Marko Djurica/Reuters)

The Russian foreign ministry also sanctioned 12 members of the Australia Day Council of South Australia, including its chair and deputy chairs.

It appeared the council members were included on the list for hosting events celebrating the local Ukrainian community. The council also reportedly banned Russian supporters from participating in an Australia Day parade, while a group of Ukrainians participated in the event.

Keeping a Close Eye on Russia

Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has indicated that the federal government is working closely with its allies to monitor the constantly evolving security situation in Russia.

“Australians in Russia should leave immediately if it’s safe to do so. The security situation could deteriorate further,” she wrote on Twitter.

“Australia’s travel advice for Russia remains ‘Do Not Travel.’”

The federal government has warned that its ability to provide consular assistance for Australians who choose to travel to Russia is limited.

“The Australian Government will not be able to evacuate you from Russia,” it said.

Wong’s comments come after the armed Wagner mercenary group led a rebellion against Putin’s head of defence before agreeing to stop its fast advance towards Moscow following a deal.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, will move to neighbouring Belarus as part of a deal to end what the Kremlin said was an armed coup against Russia’s military leadership.

Prigozhin, who has been a close ally of Putin for some 20 years, had earlier described on Telegram the advancing troops as a “march for justice” to topple Moscow’s military leadership who he blamed for destroying Russian soldiers.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Saturday that, under a deal mediated by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Prigozhin will move to Belarus and criminal charges against him in Russia will be dropped.

Russian Embassy in Australia

Meanwhile in Australia’s capital of Canberra, Russia has launched a legal bid against the government, challenging its cancellation of the lease for the Russian embassy.

A lone Russian diplomat was also found squatting on the disputed land, with the Australian Federal Police not able to move in to arrest him because of his diplomatic immunity.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed the legal challenge and said he did not consider the squatter a national security risk.

“We’re very confident of our position, and processes are underway for the Commonwealth to formalise possession of the site,” he told reporters on Friday.

“Australia will stand up for our values, and we will stand up for our national security. And a bloke standing in the cold on a bit of grass in Canberra is not a threat to our national security.”

Tom Ozimek contributed to this report.