Some documents and names will be suppressed to protect national security in the court case against alleged Russian spies living in Brisbane.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Anthony Gett granted the request on Monday afternoon at Brisbane Magistrates Court.
Everton Park couple Kira and Igor Korolev were charged with preparing to carry out an act of espionage after being arrested at home in 2024.
The case generated significant concerns across Australia about potential foreign interference.
Kira Korolev, 41, was an information systems technician in the Australian Army.
The Australian Federal Police allege she travelled to Russia undeclared while on long-term leave in 2023, and while away told Igor how to log into her official work account from their Brisbane home to gain access to material on defence computer systems so it could be sent to Russia.
Neither appeared in court on Monday, with the barrister representing Igor Korolev saying they had been under the impression a Russian interpreter could not be arranged.
Barrister Dylan Kerr represented the Australian Department of Defence and Australian Federal Police.
He argued it was in the public interest for almost 200 documents, a witness statement and some names to be suppressed.
“In my respectful submission, the proposed orders only restrict open justice to the extent necessary to do so in the interest of national security,” Kerr said.
Gett agreed, and granted a non-publication order after well over an hour of deliberations.
The Korolevs’ defence lawyers did not oppose the order, which doesn’t prevent them from accessing evidence.
If one or both of the Korolevs faced a committal hearing to determine if they should face trial, some evidence and witnesses would have to be heard in closed court, the magistrate was told.
The information will remain secret for 15 years.
The couple will remain behind bars, with the case returning to court on May 11, 2026.
With AAP
