Overview
- Russian rights advocate Ivan Melnikov appealed to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, claiming Kira Koroleva’s condition has sharply worsened in custody with cardiac pain, leg swelling and a suspected ocular cancer.
- Melnikov said Koroleva reported nine months of heart pain without an echocardiogram or Holter monitoring and that only a delayed ECG was performed, urging immediate diagnostics and treatment.
- He also asked Australian authorities to consider a prisoner exchange involving Russian nationals Semen Boykov and the Korolev family for Australian citizen Oscar Jenkins.
- The Russian embassy said it is providing consular support and arranged for a Russian Orthodox priest to visit Koroleva at her request.
- Koroleva, a dual Russian–Australian IT specialist arrested with her husband in July 2024 on espionage suspicions, has a case next due in late February 2026 after prosecutors sought more time; the medical claims cited are reported by campaigners and relatives without independent confirmation in the provided coverage.