Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Thursday that his government would not allow Russia to build a new embassy near Parliament in Canberra due to national security concerns.

Security Risks

“The government has received very clear security advice about the risks of a new Russian presence so close to Parliament,” Albanese told reporters.

Failed to Cancel the Lease

Since 2008, Russia has been renting a plot of land near the parliament in Canberra.

The Australian government has already tried to cancel this lease, but his attempt failed.

New Legislation

Albanese said Thursday that after his government used every possible legal means to prevent Russia from building a new embassy on the land, the only way left is to pass a new law in parliament that prevents Moscow from moving forward with its project.

“We are moving quickly so that the rented site does not become an official diplomatic presence,” he added.

“Clear Threat”

For her part, Australian Home Secretary Claire O’Neill confirmed that the new embassy that Moscow wants to build in Canberra poses a clear threat to the country’s national security.

“The main problem with the proposed second Russian embassy in Canberra is its location,” O’Neill said.

“The site is directly adjacent to the parliament building,” she added.

The current building of the Russian embassy is located in the Griffith district in the south of the city.