The Russian Ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky in Australia is here to stay as a direct line of communication to the Russian government according to Foreign Minister Marise Payne. The option to expel him is still a ‘live option’ as other countries have expelled diplomats for “undertaking activities not consistent with their diplomatic status”, it does not include ambassadors or heads of a mission.
Indonesia is hosting the G20 summit later this year and is under pressure to exclude Russia from the meetings.
Senator Payne has said that there are “sensitive issues” to work through regarding the G20 summit and a range of other international groupings that Russia participates in.
Senator Payne reiterated her condemnation of Russia’s ‘illegal and unlawful’ invasion of Ukraine.