A Russian-Australian man has been charged with attempting to engage in foreign interference, Australian Federal Police announced. The 27-year-old was arrested in Sumner, southwest Brisbane, on Thursday after an investigation by the Counter Foreign Interference Task Force.
He faces a charge of intentionally engaging in foreign interference. Although he was apprehended in Queensland, the man is understood to be a resident of Victoria. He is scheduled to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.
According to the Department of Home Affairs, foreign interference occurs when foreign entities attempt to secretly influence Australia's decision-making and other domestic matters through deceptive, unfair, or hidden means. Such actions are described as potentially harmful to Australia's autonomy and national interests.