An Australian community group that campaigns against the Kremlin and the invasion of Ukraine has been targeted by politicians aligned with Vladimir Putin, raising the possibility members of the organisation could face big fines or up to six years in jail if they travel to Russia.
The Svoboda Alliance of Australia and New Zealand is a Russian ethnic group that organises public protests and tries to combat Russian language propaganda Down Under.
This year it published a report that labelled the Russian ambassador Alexey Pavlovsky a liar, questioned the true purpose and size of Russia's diplomatic presence in Australia and claimed some new Russian passports were being packed in free plastic supermarket bags from Coles that were normally used for nuts and had the words "may cause allergy".
Last month, the alliance also helped organise a conference at the Australian National University in Canberra, which looked at information warfare and the way Russian diasporas were being mobilised by the Kremlin's intelligence agencies.
The Svoboda Alliance had been aware for some time the Russian government was deeply unhappy with its work.
But on Wednesday evening, a Russian parliament commission on countering foreign interference formally proposed recognising the alliance's activities — and the actions of 29 other organisations from 16 different "unfriendly" countries — as "undesirable".
Some of the groups will also be considered "extremist".
Commission chairman Vasily Piskarev claimed, without evidence, that "all these structures are controlled by authorities from NATO member states and are aimed at undermining our country (Russia) from within".
The statement also added that the "commission had collected materials on 150 citizens" who had called for sanctions on Russia and the information would be sent to law enforcement agencies.
Australia is not a member of NATO, though it has annoyed the Kremlin due to its support of Ukraine since Russia's invasion.
As the ABC revealed earlier this month, the federal government is also "looking hard" at Russia's "diplomatic profile" in Australia, amid ongoing concerns about the scope of Russian intelligence operations here – activities the Svoboda Alliance has tried to shine a light on.
"Putin's regime is a totalitarian regime. It suppresses and it harms everybody who speaks against it," Ilya Fomin, from the alliance, said.
"This proposed listing shows that and just demonstrates the very poor situation with human rights in Russia."
"This is the very best evidence that they do see us as a threat."
Designation a 'badge of honour'
The other groups named are pro-democracy Russian groups in countries such as the US, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany and Latvia.
The "undesirable" designation law was signed by Mr Putin in 2015.
Groups designated are banned from holding public events in Russia, distributing promotional materials and aren't allowed to be customers of Russian banks and financial institutions.
"The finding of the Duma commission can be seen as a badge of honour for Svoboda Alliance," said Robert Horvath, a specialist on Russian politics at La Trobe University.
"It now belongs to a relatively small club of democracy promoters, investigative journalism media and religious organisations that the Putin regime has targeted in this way.
"By its very existence, Svoboda Alliance is a refutation of the Putin regime's doctrine of the 'Russian World', the idea that Russians everywhere should share the Kremlin's ideals and serve its goals."
Russians who maintain ties to groups after they have been designated can be fined or be punished with up to six years in jail.
"Svoboda Alliance is a tiny but vocal group striving to promote anti-Russian agenda in Australia," a spokesperson for the Russian embassy in Canberra said.
"If it is indeed designated as an undesirable foreign organisation under Russian legislation, this will hardly come as a surprise."
But members of the Svoboda Alliance say they are prepared for the risk of retaliation and have been aware of the dangers of speaking out against Mr Putin for a long time.
"A lot of Russians abroad are really afraid to speak out because of the risk of prosecution of them or prosecution of their families back home, or even worse," Mr Fomin said.
"We know all the stories about poisonings, like Alexander Litvinenko, Alexei Navalny and the Skripals.
"We do not want to be designated as extremists, like terrorists, but if Putin's government's sees us this way then it is better that it is said explicitly."
'Ideal occasion' for government to signal displeasure
For some time, Australian intelligence agencies have been concerned about the actions of a few Russian nationals here.
Just before the last election campaign was called, Labor urged the Morrison government to boot out some Russian diplomats and support staff as punishment for atrocities in Ukraine.
Seven months on, this has not happened, partly because the Department of Foreign Affairs fears expulsions could threaten the future of Australia's diplomatic presence in Moscow.
But Mr Horvath argues now is the time for the Australian government to act.
"I think we need to do more," he said.
"For over half a decade, Russian diplomats have tried to weaponise the Russian diaspora in Australia.
"Now the Russian state is targeting Russian Australians who uphold democratic values and human rights.
"It would be the ideal occasion for the Australian government to signal its displeasure with this meddling in our internal affairs by expelling the responsible diplomats."
Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Penny Wong replied to a letter from the Svoboda Alliance, which urged the expulsion of Russians.
"The Australian Government is clear that Russia's diplomatic footprint should reflect Australia's national interest, with an appropriate size and personnel profile," she wrote.
"All options remain under consideration," she added.
There are many irritants in the diplomatic relationship between Australia and Russia.
Earlier this month, the Australian Federal Police said the hack on health insurer Medibank could be traced to criminals in Russia and the prime minister declared Russia should be held accountable.
A week ago, a Dutch court found three men — all members of Russian proxy forces in eastern Ukraine — guilty of shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over the conflict zone in 2014.
The Kremlin has always denied any responsibility for the atrocity, which claimed 38 Australian lives.
In September, pro-Putin comedians with reported connections to Russian intelligence released a video of their prank on Australian senators, who were examining a new type of sanction that Russia has campaigned furiously against across the globe.
The Ukrainian ambassador and members of the Australian Ukrainian community have also been calling for diplomatic expulsions ever since Russia launched its invasion in February.
