Russian diplomats racked up more than 230 unpaid traffic fines in Canberra
An 18-month fight over DFAT documents has revealed that Russia’s embassy topped the list for unpaid traffic fines among foreign missions in the nation's capital.
Russian diplomats accrued more than 230 unpaid traffic fines worth tens of thousands of dollars in the nation’s capital during 2022 and 2023 when global concerns over the Ukraine crisis were at their peak.
Documents released to Capital Brief by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) under freedom information laws show the Russian embassy was by far the worst offending foreign mission in Canberra when it came to unpaid traffic fines over 2022 and 2023.
In a statement to Capital Brief, the Russian embassy said: "That matter of historic nature was settled in 2023."
A letter sent by DFAT on 19 December 2022 listed 235 outstanding traffic infringements recorded by ACT authorities, which would have likely totalled more than $35,000. The fines were mostly red light and speeding infringements, along with parking fines.
