Authorities in Australia have told the Russian government it has 20 days to vacate the site of its Embassy after failing to finish construction within the designated timeframe.
Originally leased in 2008 from the National Capital Authority (NCA), which manages the diplomatic precinct in Australia’s capital of Canberra, the Russian government agreed to complete construction three years after building approvals were granted.
Sally Barnes, CEO of the NCA, said in a media release (pdf) that block granted to the Russian Embassy was a premium site located in central Canberra, close to Lake Burley Griffin and the Australian Parliament House. However, the NCA said ongoing, unfinished work on the site detracted from the “overall aesthetic, importance and dignity of the area.”…