Australia’s National Press Club has withdrawn an invitation to the Russian ambassador to speak in response to alleged war crimes and the bombing of civilian targets in Ukraine. The Press Club, the country’s leading journalist association which regularly engages political, business, and social leaders to speak, said it was withdrawing an invitation sent weeks prior to the Russian Ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky. “The invitations were issued at a different stage in the conflict in Ukraine before allegations of war crimes and bombing of civilian targets and the Board now considers it inappropriate to continue with the invitation to the Russian ambassador,” according to a statement from Press Club President Maurice Reilly. He said the organisation would continue encouraging free speech and promote “balanced national discussion” on major issues of the day while reserving the right to extend an invitation for a later date. “The National Press Club is a vigorous champion …