List of ambassadors of Australia to Russia

Last updated

Ambassador of Australia to the Russian Federation
Coat of Arms of Australia.svg
Graeme Meehan (1).jpg
Incumbent
Graeme Meehan
since 5 February 2020 (2020-02-05)
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Style His Excellency
Reports to Minister for Foreign Affairs
Nominator Prime Minister of Australia
Appointer Governor-General of Australia
Inaugural holder Bill Slater
Formation2 January 1943
Website Australian Embassy, Russian Federation
The Australian Embassy, Podkolokolny Pereulok 11, Moscow. Podkolokolny 10 02.jpg
The Australian Embassy, Podkolokolny Pereulok 11, Moscow.

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 February 2020 is Graeme Meehan. [1]

Contents

Posting history

Russia and Australia have enjoyed diplomatic relations since 1942, when Australia opened channels with the Soviet Union. 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. [2] 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. [3] 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. [4] 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. [5] The Australian Government announced plans to close its embassy in Kazakhstan in August 1999. [6] According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the closure was due to resource constraints. [7]

Officeholders

Heads of mission

OrdinalOfficeholderTitleOther officesTerm start dateTerm end dateTime in officeNotes
1 Bill Slater Minister to the Soviet Union12 October 1942June 19437 months [8] [9]
2 James Maloney 5 November 194312 August 19462 years, 280 days [10]
(n/a) Noël Deschamps Chargé d'affaires12 August 194619470–1 years
3 Alan Watt Minister to the Soviet UnionJune 194716 February 19482 years, 8 months
Ambassador to the Soviet Union16 February 194810 February 1950
(n/a) Frederick Blakeney Chargé d'affaires10 February 1950September 19511 year, 6 months
(n/a) John McMillan September 195114 October 19532 years, 1 month [11]
(n/a) Brian Hill 14 October 195324 February 1954133 days [12]
Embassy closed
(n/a) Bill Cutts Chargé d'affaires22 July 195928 July 19601 year, 6 days [13]
4 Keith Waller Ambassador to the Soviet Union28 July 196019621–2 years [14]
5 Stewart Wolfe Jamieson A 196219652–3 years
6 John Rowland A February 196519682–3 years [15]
7 Frederick Blakeney 1968June 19723–4 years [16]
8Lawrence John Lawrey B D 12 June 1972April 19741 year, 9 months [17]
9 James Plimsoll D 23 April 19744 August 19773 years, 103 days [18]
10 Murray Bourchier D 4 August 1977August 19802 years, 11 months
11David Wyke Evans D 1 March 1981March 19843 years [19]
12 Ted Pocock D 21 March 1984September 19873 years, 5 months
13Robin Ashwin D 28 September 1987May 19913 years, 7 months [20]
14Cavan Hogue29 May 199126 December 19913 years, 5 months [21]
Ambassador to the Russian Federation C E F G H I J K L M 26 December 1991November 1994
15Geoffrey Bentley C E F G I J K L M 2 November 199419 December 19984 years, 47 days
16 Ruth Pearce C E F G H I J K L M 18 November 199829 January 20023 years, 72 days [22]
17Leslie Rowe C E F G H I J K L M 18 December 2002February 20052 years, 1 month [23]
18 Bob Tyson C E F G H I J K L M 28 February 2005June 20083 years, 3 months [24]
19 Margaret Twomey C E F G H I J K L M June 2008October 20135 years, 4 months [25]
20Paul Myler C G H I J K L M 24 October 2013December 20152 years, 1 month [26]
21Peter Tesch G H I J K L M January 2016April 20193 years, 3 months [27]
22Graeme Meehan G H I J K L M 5 February 2020incumbent3 years, 244 days [28] [29]

Notes

^A : Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to Sweden, between 1964 and 1966.
^B : Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to Poland, between June 1972 and September 1973.
^C : Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to Ukraine, between 10 January 1992 and February 2015.
^D : Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to Mongolia, between 12 June 1973 to 29 May 1991.
^E : Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to the Republic of Azerbaijan between 26 December 1991 and 2011.
^F : Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to Georgia, between 1992 and 2011.
^G : Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to the Republic of Uzbekistan, since 26 December 1991.
^H : Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to the Republic of Kazakhstan, between 26 December 1991 and June 1995, and since 1999.
^I : Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to the Kyrgyz Republic, since 26 December 1991.
^J : Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to Turkmenistan, since 26 December 1991.
^K : Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to the Republic of Tajikistan, since 26 December 1991.
^L : Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to the Republic of Armenia, since 26 December 1991.
^M : Also served as non-resident Ambassador of Australia to the Republic of Belarus, since 26 December 1991.

Ambassadors to Kazakhstan

OrdinalOfficeholderTerm start dateTerm end dateTime in officeNotes
1Douglas TownsendJune 1995November 19972 years, 5 months [5]
2Peter TeschNovember 199719991–2 years [30]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embassy of Australia, Moscow</span>

The Embassy of Australia in Moscow is the diplomatic mission of Australia to the Russian Federation. The current head of post and Ambassador of Australia to the Russian Federation is Graeme Meehan. The embassy serves as the diplomatic mission for Australia to the Russian Federation, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The chancery is located at 10A/2 Podkolokolny Lane in the Tagansky District of Moscow.

References

  1. ↑ Payne, Marise (28 June 2019). "Ambassador to Russia". Australian Government.
  2. ↑ "NO AMBASSADOR TO MOSCOW". Daily Advertiser . Wagga Wagga, NSW. 8 March 1952. p. 4. Retrieved 12 May 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ "Ambassador from Poland due next week". The Canberra Times. 27 October 1973. p. 9.
  4. ↑ "Political relations between Ukraine and Australia". Embassy of Ukraine in Australia. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Archived from the original on 19 December 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  5. 1 2 Evans, Gareth (May 1995). "Diplomatic appointment: Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  6. ↑ Downer, Alexander (7 August 1999). "Changes in Australia's Overseas Representation" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  7. ↑ Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Kazakhstan country brief, Australian Government, archived from the original on 14 August 2015
  8. ↑ "EXCHANGING ENVOYS WITH SOVIET". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 October 1942. p. 5. Retrieved 23 August 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ "MR SLATER BACK FROM RUSSIA". The Argus . Melbourne. 18 June 1943. p. 3. Retrieved 23 August 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  10. ↑ "NEW MINISTER TO RUSSIA". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 November 1943. p. 8. Retrieved 23 August 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  11. ↑ "New Australian Envoy Calls On Mr. Gromyko". The West Australian . Perth. 1 October 1951. p. 2. Retrieved 12 May 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  12. ↑ AAP (16 October 1953). "Returning from Russia". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 2.
  13. ↑ "DIPLOMATS ARRIVE IN MOSCOW". The Canberra Times. 23 July 1959. p. 2. Retrieved 19 May 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  14. ↑ "News In Brief". The Canberra Times. 29 July 1960. p. 3. Retrieved 19 May 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  15. ↑ "Envoy leaves for Moscow". The Canberra Times. 10 February 1965. p. 18. Retrieved 19 May 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  16. ↑ "Obituary: FREDERICK JOSEPH BLAKENEY". The Canberra Times. 21 June 1990. p. 7. Retrieved 19 May 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  17. ↑ "Our man in Moscow returns". The Canberra Times. 26 November 1971. p. 7. Retrieved 19 May 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  18. ↑ "Ambassador". The Canberra Times. 17 April 1974. p. 5. Retrieved 19 May 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  19. ↑ "USSR welcomes new ambassador". The Canberra Times. 14 January 1981. p. 3. Retrieved 19 May 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  20. ↑ "Hayden names 7 envoys". The Canberra Times. 25 August 1987. p. 3. Retrieved 19 May 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  21. ↑ "IN BRIEF". The Canberra Times. 23 April 1991. p. 10. Retrieved 19 May 2015– via National Library of Australia.
  22. ↑ Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2000), Annual Report 1999–2000: Appendix 19. Overseas accreditations and responsibilities, Australian Government, archived from the original on 15 August 2015
  23. ↑ Downer, Alexander (18 December 2001). "Diplomatic Appointment – Ambassador to Russia" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  24. ↑ Downer, Alexander (28 January 2005). "Diplomatic Appointment – Ambassador to Russia" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015.
  25. ↑ Smith, Stephen (30 April 2008). "Diplomatic Appointment – Ambassador to Russia" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015.
  26. ↑ Carr, Bob (1 November 2012). "Media Release: Ambassador to Russia" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015.
  27. ↑ Bishop, Julie (16 November 2015). "Ambassador to Russia" (Press release). Australian Government.
  28. ↑ Payne, Marise (28 June 2019). "Ambassador to Russia". Australian Government.
  29. ↑ "Presentation of foreign ambassadors' letters of credence". Events. President of Russia. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  30. ↑ Downer, Alexander (15 October 1997). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
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