List of ambassadors of Australia to Russia explained

Post:Ambassador of Australia to the Russian Federation
Insignia:Coat of Arms of Australia.svg
Insigniasize:120px
Department:Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Reports To:Minister for Foreign Affairs
Incumbent:John Geering
Nominator:Prime Minister of Australia
Style:His Excellency
Appointer:Governor-General of Australia
Formation:2 January 1943
Inaugural:Bill Slater
Website:Australian Embassy, Russian Federation

The ambassador of Australia to the Russian Federation is an officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the head of the Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Russian Federation. The position has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and holds non-resident accreditation for Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Armenia and Belarus. The current ambassador since November 2023 is John Geering.

Posting history

Australia's first diplomatic presence in Russia was established in 1942. This occurred on 13 October 1942 with the conclusion of negotiations between Foreign Ministers Herbert Evatt and Vyacheslav Molotov. The Australian legation opened in January 1943 (the first Minister, Bill Slater was appointed in October 1942) in the temporary Russian capital of Kuybyshev and the Soviet embassy in Canberra also opened in March 1943.

By the war's end the legation moved to Moscow and on 16 February 1948 was upgraded to an embassy. In February 1950 the ambassador Alan Watt was recalled by the Australian government and was not replaced.[1] In April 1954 with the scandal of the Petrov Affair the embassy in Moscow was closed, but later reopened in 1959. Between 1964 and 1966, the ambassador in Moscow held accreditation as Ambassador to Sweden. Between June 1972 and September 1973, the ambassador in Moscow was accredited to Warsaw.[2] With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in late 1991, Australia acted to recognise the new states of the Commonwealth of Independent States on 26 December 1991. As a result, the embassy's accreditation was transferred to the Russian Federation, while non-resident accreditation to many of the new former Soviet republics was acquired. Non-resident accreditation with the Ukraine was consequently included from 10 January 1992, but was transferred to the new embassy established in Kyiv in February 2015 following the Euromaidan protests across Ukraine.[3] From 12 June 1973 to 29 May 1991, accreditation to Mongolia was also held by the embassy in Moscow until it was transferred to the Embassy in Beijing. Accreditation for Azerbaijan (since 1991) and Georgia (since 1992) was transferred to the Embassy in Ankara, Turkey in 2011. Accreditation for Moldova was transferred to the Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine in 2019.

The Australian Government established an embassy in Almaty, Kazakhstan in 1995 and appointed its first resident ambassador, Douglas Townsend.[4] The Australian Government announced plans to close its embassy in Kazakhstan in August 1999.[5] According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the closure was due to resource constraints.

Officeholders

Heads of mission

Ordinal Officeholder Title Other offices Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
Minister to the Soviet Unionalign=right [6] [7]
align=right [8]
(n/a)Chargé d'affairesalign=right years
Minister to the Soviet Union
Ambassador to the Soviet Union
(n/a)Chargé d'affairesalign=right
(n/a)align=right [9]
(n/a)align=right [10]
Embassy closed
(n/a)Chargé d'affairesalign=right [11]
Ambassador to the Soviet Unionalign=right years[12]
align=right years
align=right years[13]
align=right years[14]
Lawrence John Lawrey align=right [15]
align=right [16]
align=right
David Wyke Evans align=right [17]
align=right
Robin Ashwin align=right [18]
Cavan Hogue [19]
Ambassador to the Russian Federation
Geoffrey Bentleyalign=right
align=right
Leslie Rowealign=right [20]
align=right [21]
align=right [22]
Paul Myleralig=centeralign=right [23]
Peter Teschalign=right [24]
Graeme Meehan14 November 2023align=right [25] [26]
23John Geeringincumbent[27]

Notes

Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to Sweden, between 1964 and 1966.

Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to Poland, between June 1972 and September 1973.

Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to Ukraine, between 10 January 1992 and February 2015.

Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to Mongolia, between 12 June 1973 to 29 May 1991.

Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to the Republic of Azerbaijan between 26 December 1991 and 2011.

Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to Georgia, between 1992 and 2011.

Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to the Republic of Uzbekistan, since 26 December 1991.

Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to the Republic of Kazakhstan, between 26 December 1991 and June 1995, and since 1999.

Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to the Kyrgyz Republic, since 26 December 1991.

Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to Turkmenistan, since 26 December 1991.

Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to the Republic of Tajikistan, since 26 December 1991.

Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to the Republic of Armenia, since 26 December 1991.

Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to the Republic of Belarus, since 26 December 1991.

Ambassadors to Kazakhstan

Ordinal Officeholder Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
Douglas Townsendalign=right
Peter Teschalign=right years[28]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: NO AMBASSADOR TO MOSCOW. . . Wagga Wagga, NSW . 8 March 1952 . 12 May 2015 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  2. News: Ambassador from Poland due next week. The Canberra Times. 27 October 1973. 9.
  3. Web site: Political relations between Ukraine and Australia. Embassy of Ukraine in Australia. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. 11 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20121219045234/http://australia.mfa.gov.ua/en/ukraine-au/diplomacy. 19 December 2012. dead.
  4. Diplomatic appointment: Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan. May 1995. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212032610/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/1995/m43.html. 12 February 2014. Australian Government. Gareth Evans (politician). Gareth. Evans.
  5. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. Australian Government. Changes in Australia's Overseas Representation. 7 August 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212024053/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/1999/fa089_99.html. 12 February 2014.
  6. News: EXCHANGING ENVOYS WITH SOVIET. . The Sydney Morning Herald . 13 October 1942 . 23 August 2015 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: MR SLATER BACK FROM RUSSIA. . . Melbourne . 18 June 1943 . 23 August 2015 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: NEW MINISTER TO RUSSIA. . The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 November 1943 . 23 August 2015 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  9. News: New Australian Envoy Calls On Mr. Gromyko. . . Perth . 1 October 1951 . 12 May 2015 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  10. News: AAP. Returning from Russia. The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 October 1953. 2.
  11. News: DIPLOMATS ARRIVE IN MOSCOW. . The Canberra Times. 23 July 1959 . 19 May 2015 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  12. News: News In Brief. . The Canberra Times. 29 July 1960 . 19 May 2015 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  13. News: Envoy leaves for Moscow. . The Canberra Times. 10 February 1965 . 19 May 2015 . 18 . National Library of Australia.
  14. News: Obituary: FREDERICK JOSEPH BLAKENEY. . The Canberra Times. 21 June 1990 . 19 May 2015 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  15. News: Our man in Moscow returns. . The Canberra Times. 26 November 1971 . 19 May 2015 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  16. News: Ambassador. . The Canberra Times. 17 April 1974 . 19 May 2015 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  17. News: USSR welcomes new ambassador. . The Canberra Times. 14 January 1981 . 19 May 2015 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  18. News: Hayden names 7 envoys. . The Canberra Times. 25 August 1987 . 19 May 2015 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  19. News: IN BRIEF. . The Canberra Times. 23 April 1991 . 19 May 2015 . 10 . National Library of Australia.
  20. Diplomatic Appointment – Ambassador to Russia. Australian Government. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212021805/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2001/fa183_01.html. 12 February 2014. 18 December 2001.
  21. Diplomatic Appointment – Ambassador to Russia. Australian Government. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. 28 January 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518084438/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2005/fa015_05.html. 18 May 2015.
  22. Diplomatic Appointment – Ambassador to Russia. Stephen. Smith. Stephen Smith (Australian politician). Australian Government. https://web.archive.org/web/20150406121802/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2008/fa-s062_08.html. 6 April 2015. 30 April 2008.
  23. Media Release: Ambassador to Russia. Australian Government. Bob. Carr. Bob Carr. https://web.archive.org/web/20150403033833/http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2012/bc_mr_121101.html. 3 April 2015. 1 November 2012.
  24. Ambassador to Russia. Australian Government. Julie. Bishop. 16 November 2015.
  25. Web site: Ambassador to Russia. Payne. Marise. 28 June 2019. Australian Government.
  26. Web site: Presentation of foreign ambassadors’ letters of credence . Events . President of Russia . 5 February 2020 . 14 December 2022 . English .
  27. Web site: Trade . corporateName= Department of Foreign Affairs and . Australian Embassy in . 2024-03-02 . russia.embassy.gov.au.
  28. Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. Australian Government. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212031000/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/1997/fa127_97.html. 12 February 2014. 15 October 1997.

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