Adelaide mother Marina Sologub accused of being a Russian spy held in detention

A mild-mannered Adelaide mother accused of being a Russian spy was dragged away from her family and interrogated before being hauled off to a detention centre. 

Marina Sologub, 39, lived in the city’s western suburbs with her husband and their teenage son until their home was raided on February 23 by the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and her visa was cancelled.

The Kazakhstan-born ethnic Russian arrived in Australia in 2020 on a distinguished talent visa, having forged a career in the space sector in Ireland where she lived most of her life.

She is currently being held in a Melbourne immigration facility awaiting an Administrative Appeals Tribunal decision on her visa, which is expected to be given in July. 

‘Of course I am innocent. I have nothing to hide,’ Ms Sologub told 7News from detention this week. 

Ms Sologub arrived in Australia on a distinguished talent visa for her work in the space sector. Her husband said their family is devastated over her arrest (pictured together)

The dramatic raid on her home was conducted by ASIO, Border Force and the Australian Federal Police.

ASIO is the only intelligence agency in the Five Eyes group – consisting of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – which can openly detain alleged spies for interrogation for 24 hours without charge.

Her visa was cancelled within that 24 hour window and she was transported to immigration detention. 

Ms Sologub was most recently working as a procurement advisor for the City of Marion council in Adelaide.

She was fast-tracked into Australia on an ‘858 distinguished talent visa’ for her expertise in the space sector.

The Australian Space Agency is based in Adelaide and the city is a hub for space research and development.

She had worked for Ireland’s National Space Centre and also worked for consultancy firm Deloitte on space projects when she first arrived in Australia.

Ms Sologub said she had worked with Russian individuals while doing her job for the Irish space agency but denies being a Russian spy for the Kremlin.

‘The whole situation is very devastating, for me, for (my) family, it’s breaking us apart,’ she said.

‘If I was a Russian spy the Australian government for sure will never invite me.

‘I just feel powerless.’

The couple have a teenage son with the family frantic Ms Sologub has been locked up

Her visa was cancelled but she is appealing with a decision expected in July. She is not charged with any crime 

Her visa was cancelled by Home Affairs Minister Claire O’Neil after a negative security assessment was given to her by ASIO.

The minister has the power to cancel individual visas if they believe a person does not meet a character test and it is in the national interest.

Ms Solugub’s lawyer said it was a tough to fight her case with the appeals tribunal because ASIO was providing very little information and the onus was on her client to provide proof she isn’t a Russian spy.

She has not been charged with any criminal offence.

Her husband of two decades, Alexander Sologub, said their whole family was frantic over her arrest.

‘They didn’t knock they smashed the door in (in the raid),’ he said.

‘We are just normal people.’