Row erupts at exclusive club over membership for Russian diplomat's wife

A diplomatic row has erupted in a Canberra social club over membership for the wife of the Russian ambassador.

High-profile members say they quit the Women's International Club because their concerns went unheard and its president labelled them "bigots".

Liana Myroschnychenko, wife of the Ukrainian ambassador, wants the club to postpone Irina Petrakova's membership.

An international diplomatic row has erupted and members have walked out of an historic Canberra social club over the organisation's decision to admit the wife of Russia's ambassador to Australia.

Liana Myroschnychenko — wife of Ukrainian ambassador Vasyl Myroschnychenko — this month informed the Women's International Club (WIC) of her resignation as a member because she felt her concerns over the admittance of Irina Petrakova, wife of ambassador Mikhail Petrakov, went unheard.

"This is not about a Russian woman simply because she is Russian … This is about a specific individual — the spouse of the ambassador of a country that is, at this very moment, destroying my country and devastating the lives of my people," Ms Myroschnychenko wrote in a letter to the club's board and members.

"The argument that an ambassador's spouse is apolitical and has no connection whatsoever to the work of the Russian Embassy does not reflect the reality of diplomatic life."

Ms Myroschnychenko says she first raised her concerns in April when she learnt Ms Petrakova was nominated for membership.

The exclusive WIC was established in 1964 and promotes itself as "a club of more than 300 women from 50 countries" offering "a special welcome … to diplomats and their families".

The organisation says its members "celebrate this diversity, learn about each other, share interests, forge new friendships and support each other".

The ABC understands the WIC sought legal advice to address the situation and was told refusing Ms Petrakova's membership might breach of anti-discrimination laws.

Ms Myroschnychenko told the ABC other ambassadors' wives followed her in alerting the WIC board of their opposition to Ms Petrakova's nomination amid concerns that her inclusion, as a representative of the Kremlin, posed foreign interference and personal security risks.

At a monthly meeting, Ms Myroschnychenko then spoke with club president Sandie Kaine about her concerns and said she was rebuked.

"She said: 'If somebody has problems being in the same room with somebody else, that's their problem because [there are] many wars in the world,'" Ms Myroschnychenko said.

It is not the first time the club has admitted the wife of a Russian diplomat.

In 2017, Irina Logvinova, wife of former ambassador Grigory Logvinov, was elected vice-president.

The Russian embassy in Australia said at the time the decision would "further strengthen international multi-level cultural and humanitarian ties as well as promote a favourable image of Russia in Australia".

Following Ms Myroschnychenko's resignation, the wives of the ambassadors of Italy and Estonia also withdrew their memberships, as Politico first reported.

In a statement to ABC News, Mr Petrakov said the WIC's acceptance of his wife's membership was "in accordance with its rules and Australian legislations".

He also suggested the member walkout was a strategic move by Ukraine amid a fresh round of US-brokered peace talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi.

"What we see now is an act of political pressure on Australian laws and institutions by the Ukrainian side, its attempt to determine who are more equal than others, promote Russophobia, both in the Club and in the country," he said.

"Right on the eve of the [Abu Dhabi] meeting we see Ukrainian representatives in Canberra launching a campaign aimed at boycotting Russian Ambassador's wife. What's the big idea?

"Like it or not, socialise or not, Russia will not go anywhere."

In a statement posted online on Monday, Mr Myroschnychenko said he had later been informed that Ms Kaine used a speech during the club's annual general meeting to describe the women who had quit as "bigots".

"I am particularly appalled by this development given the extraordinary solidarity and support that Australia and the Australian people have shown Ukraine throughout Russia's full-scale invasion, including among the WIC's members," Mr Myroschnychenko said.

"Such a dismissive attitude of the president of the club towards the personal pain and principled position of those directly affected by this war is deeply disappointing.

"Let me be very clear: refusing to socialise with a representative of Russia, which is waging a genocidal war against Ukraine, is not bigotry. It is a matter of conscience, dignity and solidarity with the victims of that aggression."

Ms Kaine told the ABC she "wasn't talking about them at all when I mentioned bigots", but did not respond to further questions about who she was referring to or whether Ms Petrakova remained a WIC member.

Another member, Marta Stachurski, attended the AGM and described Ms Kaine's comment as "deeply inappropriate".

"Such remarks dismiss legitimate moral concerns and demonstrate a troubling lack of sensitivity towards those directly affected by this conflict," she said in a letter informing Ms Kaine of her resignation as a member.

"Political neutrality should not be confused with moral indifference, nor should principled disagreement be mistaken for prejudice.

"I cannot reconcile the club's decision, or the president's remarks, with the humanitarian values I believe an international women's organisation ought to uphold."

Ms Stachurski, who has been a club member for about a decade, told the ABC that Ms Kaine had apologised to her after learning of her resignation.

She said she did not believe Ms Kaine would seek to rescind Ms Petrakova's membership.

"I accept all people, except the Russian ambassador's wife, because she represents a country that is a murderous country on the world stage," she said.

Ms Myroschnychenko said she was shocked by Ms Kaine's comments and told the ABC that, since her resignation, she had been sent more than 20 messages of support from other members threatening to leave the WIC.

"I still think there is a space for changing their decision and to at least postpone [Ms Petrakova's] membership until the war is over," she said.