Not in this neighbourhood, Russia – that’s the message the Federal Government sent yesterday when they cancelled a lease for a new Russian Embassy within spitting distance of Parliament House in Canberra. PM Anthony Albanese said the decision was “taken in the national security interests of Australia” after receiving advice about the risk of a Russian building within a kilometre of the nation’s Big House. “The government condemns Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine,” he added. Yesterday’s lease termination was a dramatic end to an ongoing saga… Russia was granted the lease in 2008, but it stalled on construction, prompting questions about their lease last year. Russia will still have their Embassy in a nearby suburb.