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Tuesday, October 03, 2023 10:21:01 PM
‘We don’t interfere’: Russian envoy on Voice debate
"Australia misinformation, conspiracy, racism in view - ‘We forgive, but never forget’:
yes campaigner Rachel Perkins responds to Warren Mundine on Uluru statement"
Our area internet is slower today than a turtle with two broken legs.
Andrew Tillett Foreign affairs, defence correspondent
Sep 21, 2023 – 6.20pm
Moscow’s local envoy says he will not silence a pro-Kremlin conspiracy theorist who is organising rallies against the Indigenous Voice to Parliament .. https://www.afr.com/link/follow-20180101-p5e4c6 .. while he is holed up in a Russian diplomatic compound in Sydney.
Russian ambassador to Australia Alexey Pavlovsky denied his government was encouraging Simeon Boikov – who goes by the online moniker “Aussie Cossack .. https://www.afr.com/rear-window/mrs-cossack-sets-up-infowars-australia-20220807-p5b7wu ” – to undermine the Voice referendum.
“Important Australian issue”: Russian ambassador to Australia Dr Alexey Pavlovsky in Canberra. Alex Ellinghausen
“The Russian government is not encouraging anything of what you are talking about,” Dr Pavlovsky told The Australian Financial Review.
“Our principal position is we don’t interfere in the internal affairs of foreign states. We are against it, unlike our so-called Western partners who do that as an everyday practice.
“It is ridiculous to say the opinion around this important referendum Australia will have is somehow to the smallest degree influenced outside of Australia.”
It emerged this week Mr Boikov is helping to marshal “worldwide rallies for freedom” in mainland capital cities as well as regional towns Casino and Yeppoon.
The events are now being promoted as “No to the Voice” but earlier promotional material included references to a grab bag of causes, including opposing AUKUS, 5G, abortion, NATO, mask mandates, the “Albo government” and interest rate rises.
Mr Boikov uses his online platforms to sprout pro-Russian propaganda and support Russian President Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine.
Since December last year, he has been living in the Russian consulate in Sydney’s eastern suburbs after police wanted to arrest him for allegedly assaulting a pro-Ukrainian supporter. Mr Boikov was on parole at the time for breaching a suppression order.
Asked by the Financial Review whether the Russian government had a responsibility to rein in Mr Boikov because he was living and operating effectively from Russian soil, Dr Pavlovsky noted Mr Boikov had been active on social media platforms for many years.
“He is an Australian citizen. Wouldn’t it be interference in internal Australian debate just to prevent an Australian citizen to express his opinion on an important Australian issue?” Dr Pavlovsky said.
“It’s not an option.”
Asked how long Russia would tolerate Mr Boikov as a “house guest”, Dr Pavlovsky said “let me just limit myself by saying we are in touch with DFAT on that”, although he dismissed the idea Mr Boikov would be made a Russian diplomat, so he could enjoy diplomatic immunity and be spirited away to Moscow.
Mr Boikov told online radio host Chris Smith on Thursday Russian officials “don’t have any idea what I’m doing, they’ve probably never heard of the Voice”.
Mr Boikov has ruled out leaving the consulate, saying he did not want to give police the opportunity to take him into custody.
A number of current and former MPs are being promoted as speaking at the rallies, including Senator Ralph Babet, NSW upper house MPs John Ruddick and Tania Mihailuk, and former federal Liberal members Craig Kelly and Ross Cameron, who are both no longer in the party. Mr Boikov said Indigenous elders and veterans would also speak.
The official No campaign has distanced itself from Mr Boikov’s events as pro-Voice advocacy group the Uluru Dialogue labelled the rallies an “affront to democracy”.
“These ‘No’ rallies demonstrate how the No campaign benefits from division and disunity, with hostile and anti-Australian interests aligning themselves with No’s position and supporters,” co-chairs Pat Anderson and Megan Davis said.
“It is not only divisive but outright dangerous for leaders of the No campaign to turn a blind eye while Simeon Boikov ... exploits the Voice referendum for his own gain.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said people should stay away from Mr Boikov’s rallies.
“That’s madness and I’ve condemned that. Anybody who’s pro-Putin has significant issues, and they should seek help for those issues,” Mr Dutton said.
“But I would encourage people to go to peaceful, lawful rallies, conducted by No campaigners and listen to the very serious concerns and hesitations that those people have.”
Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko said the consulate should evict Mr Boikov.
“It’s grotesque that the grounds of the Russian consulate in Sydney are being used to interfere in Australia’s important debates,” he said.
Andrew Tillett writes on politics, foreign affairs, defence and security from the Canberra press gallery. Connect with Andrew on Facebook and Twitter. Email Andrew at andrew.tillett@afr.com
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/we-don-t-interfere-russian-envoy-on-voice-debate-20230921-p5e6jz
"Australia misinformation, conspiracy, racism in view - ‘We forgive, but never forget’:
yes campaigner Rachel Perkins responds to Warren Mundine on Uluru statement"
Our area internet is slower today than a turtle with two broken legs.
Andrew Tillett Foreign affairs, defence correspondent
Sep 21, 2023 – 6.20pm
Moscow’s local envoy says he will not silence a pro-Kremlin conspiracy theorist who is organising rallies against the Indigenous Voice to Parliament .. https://www.afr.com/link/follow-20180101-p5e4c6 .. while he is holed up in a Russian diplomatic compound in Sydney.
Russian ambassador to Australia Alexey Pavlovsky denied his government was encouraging Simeon Boikov – who goes by the online moniker “Aussie Cossack .. https://www.afr.com/rear-window/mrs-cossack-sets-up-infowars-australia-20220807-p5b7wu ” – to undermine the Voice referendum.
“Important Australian issue”: Russian ambassador to Australia Dr Alexey Pavlovsky in Canberra. Alex Ellinghausen
“The Russian government is not encouraging anything of what you are talking about,” Dr Pavlovsky told The Australian Financial Review.
“Our principal position is we don’t interfere in the internal affairs of foreign states. We are against it, unlike our so-called Western partners who do that as an everyday practice.
“It is ridiculous to say the opinion around this important referendum Australia will have is somehow to the smallest degree influenced outside of Australia.”
It emerged this week Mr Boikov is helping to marshal “worldwide rallies for freedom” in mainland capital cities as well as regional towns Casino and Yeppoon.
The events are now being promoted as “No to the Voice” but earlier promotional material included references to a grab bag of causes, including opposing AUKUS, 5G, abortion, NATO, mask mandates, the “Albo government” and interest rate rises.
Mr Boikov uses his online platforms to sprout pro-Russian propaganda and support Russian President Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine.
Since December last year, he has been living in the Russian consulate in Sydney’s eastern suburbs after police wanted to arrest him for allegedly assaulting a pro-Ukrainian supporter. Mr Boikov was on parole at the time for breaching a suppression order.
Asked by the Financial Review whether the Russian government had a responsibility to rein in Mr Boikov because he was living and operating effectively from Russian soil, Dr Pavlovsky noted Mr Boikov had been active on social media platforms for many years.
“He is an Australian citizen. Wouldn’t it be interference in internal Australian debate just to prevent an Australian citizen to express his opinion on an important Australian issue?” Dr Pavlovsky said.
“It’s not an option.”
Asked how long Russia would tolerate Mr Boikov as a “house guest”, Dr Pavlovsky said “let me just limit myself by saying we are in touch with DFAT on that”, although he dismissed the idea Mr Boikov would be made a Russian diplomat, so he could enjoy diplomatic immunity and be spirited away to Moscow.
Mr Boikov told online radio host Chris Smith on Thursday Russian officials “don’t have any idea what I’m doing, they’ve probably never heard of the Voice”.
Mr Boikov has ruled out leaving the consulate, saying he did not want to give police the opportunity to take him into custody.
A number of current and former MPs are being promoted as speaking at the rallies, including Senator Ralph Babet, NSW upper house MPs John Ruddick and Tania Mihailuk, and former federal Liberal members Craig Kelly and Ross Cameron, who are both no longer in the party. Mr Boikov said Indigenous elders and veterans would also speak.
The official No campaign has distanced itself from Mr Boikov’s events as pro-Voice advocacy group the Uluru Dialogue labelled the rallies an “affront to democracy”.
“These ‘No’ rallies demonstrate how the No campaign benefits from division and disunity, with hostile and anti-Australian interests aligning themselves with No’s position and supporters,” co-chairs Pat Anderson and Megan Davis said.
“It is not only divisive but outright dangerous for leaders of the No campaign to turn a blind eye while Simeon Boikov ... exploits the Voice referendum for his own gain.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said people should stay away from Mr Boikov’s rallies.
“That’s madness and I’ve condemned that. Anybody who’s pro-Putin has significant issues, and they should seek help for those issues,” Mr Dutton said.
“But I would encourage people to go to peaceful, lawful rallies, conducted by No campaigners and listen to the very serious concerns and hesitations that those people have.”
Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko said the consulate should evict Mr Boikov.
“It’s grotesque that the grounds of the Russian consulate in Sydney are being used to interfere in Australia’s important debates,” he said.
Andrew Tillett writes on politics, foreign affairs, defence and security from the Canberra press gallery. Connect with Andrew on Facebook and Twitter. Email Andrew at andrew.tillett@afr.com
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/we-don-t-interfere-russian-envoy-on-voice-debate-20230921-p5e6jz
It was Plato who said, “He, O men, is the wisest, who like Socrates, knows that his wisdom is in truth worth nothing”
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