Is she or isn't she a spy? The mother accused of working for Russia | 60 Minutes Australia 

Her English grammar when speaking doesn’t sound like she’s been in English speaking countries since she was a teen and her accent is extremely strong. That’s interesting…

An innocent person would not be this difficult. This would have been a chance to speak her truth and shout it from rooftops. She came on tv just to say; Prove it. She won't even answer yes or no. She is well fed and safe. Keep her in detention until she talks.... then deport her lack to daddy pew pew.

I reckon they have a pile of evidence that 60 minutes certainly doesn't have, and they've probably been following her for quite some time.

I can;t be the only person who would love to hear what body language experts might have to say about this woman's behaviors.

Cold eyed arrogance and disrespect is not the response I would expect of an innocent person, especially since she is a visitor to Australia and has Ireland, a free country, to return to.

When asked "are you a spy" she did not say no. She said "I am not guilty of anything doing"

When not answering hard revealing questions, she looks 100% of the time at camera. When posed any revealing questions she looks 90% of the time somewhere else, not at the camera. Funny. Well, apparently she was not trained for years.

She is clearly not helping herself. Why would an innocent person respond in such a defensive and arrogant way instead of trying to answer questions the righy way. She is just angry her secret got revealed. Deport her.

By far the best media outlet out there, real journalism, challenge people etc. Love watching - From Canada

"I will tell you one more time because I am loosing my patience" - I mean, we can certainly agree Marina is not a particularly polite or likeable person. If you are unwanted (which is indisputable as her visa has been cancelled) and feel that you are being treated unjust, why fight deportation so vehemently? It's not like she is being sent to Russia.. Any government has the right to deny or cancel its visa - in fact, the Australian government has no obligation to provide reasoning for that whatsoever.

I think there's an embedded confession in this story, when she said she planned to have a life in Australia. Some people would say that's lovely, but those of us familiar with Russian intelligence would know that a good deep cover their ideal scenario. Some spies remain dark for even a decade building their new life, getting closer to the ultimate "target" or assignment. I think she's not denying being a spy. But i think she's mad that no one is sharing the information with her. She wants to know how her cover was blown.... And I wouldn't tell her. Good job finding her! I think she's absolutely slimy. She's giving non answers and playing semantics games. This is not an innocent person.

Hmm, how can you prove something that did not happen? She comes across as very narcissistic. On the way she responds, being unwilling to confirm past associations with a Russian diplomat, and hearing she was born and lived in a Russian satellite country until her family migrated to Ireland when she was a teenager, doesn't support her claims at all. I am not sure, but based on the interview and her comments I cannot dismiss the possibility she spied and it seems that after ASIO showed interest, she no longer worked in the space industry. This is very telling. Guilty or innocent, can Australia take the risk?

I hope I dont see her on the streets here in Ireland. You know what she's not smart enough to be a spy, BUT I believe I think shes a wanna be greedy spy, who just had access to high level information and they used her. A snitch is a snitch.

When she asked if she was telling the truth, the lady said yes, but shook her head no. Telling.

I love tara brown . such a brave professional lady. ♥️♥️♥️♥️

you can tell she’s hiding something. Also if they haven’t shown all the evidence but are going this far. It’s sure to say they are building a bigger care with other ppl involved. But they have her unless she flips and then it all Goes away.

If the reason for the woman's visa was her special skill-set in the space industry, and she no longer works in the industry, her reason for staying in Australia is no longer valid.

I love watching 60 minutes and enjoy listening to this reporter's narrative. Very informative and professonal

I feel sorry for Ireland if she goes back there.

she's very manipulative, combative, and unwilling to answer questions directly. She's also very intelligent and her affect is off. For example, she is smiling at inappropriate times during the interview because she's getting caught in lies by this interviewer. In addition, she's evasive in her answers or not acknowledging the questions at all. In my opinion, no Country can take a chance in keeping her. If allowed to remain, she could do a lot of damage by divulging secrets to other Countries. Anyway, hasn't her VISA expired?

I live in Ireland and seriously I don’t know if any Irish company will want to hire her again after doing a background check on this lady. I have known a lot of Russian people and yes some of them have been subjected to racism and discrimination a lot, but I trust that the Australian government must have had some information to accuse her of spying.

Bloody Hell, I never knew there was a Space Industry in Ireland! 😂 regards from Dublin 😀☘️☘️🇮🇪☘️☘️

She's acting so guilty

The host was remarkable. She controled the interview like a boss. Her demeanor was professional.

If a intel service from the 5 eyes says your a spy, its almost certain. A pity the interview was to narrow. Would have been interesting to ask as well about her family background, move from Kazachstan to Ireland, studies, work in EU, reasoning for moving to the Australia etc

I think its reasonable not to allow them to build nextdoor

The way she avoids answering the question in full definitely feels weird and makes me not believe her

I'm originally from Russia and she actually sounds very much like a spy.

Her Russian contact in the embassy never asked for intelligence information likely because he didn't have to because she willingly volunteered it. Anyone whose lack of veracity can be readily pointed out to them as Tara Brown has so easily done in this interview is consciously being deceitful. And her hostility toward anyone asking pertinent questions as to her past associations is seemingly dooming any hope she has of convincing Australian authorities to allow her to remain in Australia. I think her eagerness to get her son into a Russian language class means she was in all likelihood grooming her son to be an espionage mole in Western societies for the benefit of the Russian Federation. I'd bet she was connected with Russian spy agencies from the moment in her youth she immigrated from Kazakhstan to Ireland.

The man was saying many times "falsch", "falsch". No wonder that Tara couldn´t understand him, he was speaking in german. "Falsch" is german and means "false" in english.

Spies never look like "spies".

Doesnt sound like she has lived in ireland for a big part of her life.

What kind of spy would have their contacts as a ‘ Facebook friend’? A very bad spy…..or possibly…not a spy.

She's either sus or she lied on her visa application about her level of work. Either could be true.

everything she said is exactly what a spy would say 😂

Well done Tara for staying professional with these arrogant disrespectful traitors

Answer to the first question leaves a lot to question. She didn't answer No, she explained how she came trying to give an explanation why she is there. Then, saying I would stop you for making that question....if she is not, then she lacks convincing skills to show she is innocent, which would be sad. Then she says, "Please show me the evidence". Why doesn't she answered first "No I am not". When you are not, a firm, honest answer is all that you need. And the way of her interaction is over defensive. It's fine to be defensive as you must defend yourself from any false accusations, but there is a line where it goes over the board if you are trying too much to convince others.

Excellent job 60 minutes Australia!

As someone once told me, “you can have friendly foreign countries as much as you like. But there is no such thing as a friendly foreign intelligence agency.”

Naw this lady is a spy, she needs to go.

it feels like she wouldn't be so "evasive" in how she answers questions if she has nothing to hide. on top of that, aiso likely had more proof motivating their raid that found the business card.

I have a great deal o respect for Tara Brown, I would be terrified to be interviewed by her!

Just after 7:25 , there is a freudian slip that I am surprised Tara didn't pick up on. She says "our" operation....

Hmm. I would not trust her. How on earth she managed to land a job within a Space Agency in Ireland is also highly questionable. Her English is very poor. To be honest with such a poor level of English she would unlikely get a job working as an interpreter. She claims to have been living in Ireland since she was a teen. My own explanation why her English is so poor is that on a day to day basis she speaks Russian more than she speaks English. That tells me that she lives in a Russian speaking environment. So my curiosity is aroused by the fact that she managed to land a job in a Space Agency with such poor language skills. She claims that she had access to Russian key decision makers and their Irish counterparts. So my first assumption that she managed to land on her feet in the Space Industry with some help. Somebody pulled the strings. It was either her immediate family, i.e. her Mom or Dad as they come from Kazahstan, which is home to Baikanur, the former Soviet Space Industry closed city for scientists. Usually there are strict restrictions imposed by the state on such people to leave the country. Is it going too far to suggest, that her parents were able to leave Baikanur under the watchful eye of the Russian intelligence and so they were planted in Ireland as a Trojan horse. So she lands a lucrative job in European Space Agency in Ireland. My first port of call would be investigate how she got that job. Then investigate her parents activity in Ireland. And as far as I know, all members of staff employed in the Russian Embassy in any capacity have links to the Intelligence services. The same goes for international state journalists and interpreters. That is where they recruit their members. Australia has to protect her interests. It is best to act with caution. If she is asking for a favour from a member of a Russian embassy, there are no free favours.

An Irish citizen with a 100% Russian accent maintaining she's not Russian and has never lived there. 🙄

Who in their right mind would let Russia build an embassy anywhere during these times?

1:12 "Are You a spy?..."She never answered the question just eluded it in a bunch of words that sounds like an answer. She doesn't sound trustworthy.

if Australia doesn't want her there, then Australia has every right to kick her out of Australia. This woman is self entitled.

The eyes gave her lies away.

I’m surprised the comments are open. Really like Tara browns interview style , she doesn’t beat around the bush

shes an asset, not a spy, working for free and so undereducated that telegram posts tell her what to do and how to behave.

Her reactions are STRANGE to say the least. .. Where's there's smoke there's fire????

Why haven't you said: " I AM NOT A SPY!" Not: where is their proof! ❓❓❓❓❓❓

Whether she is a spy or not doesn't matter. She's not an Australian and now she does not have a visa, so the Australians can throw her out whenever they want and she doesn't get a say.

She’s very obstinate in her answers.

I don't want to be "that person" or seem to be in judgement or to know more than others on this matter but I have to say it could be her attitude that's got her into this trouble? Let me explain: If I were in a situation in any foreign country and the authorities of that country had the ability to change mine &/or my family's life for the worst I would be hugely cooperative with them You'd see me bowing and scraping; you'd see me "yes sir no sir"; you would see me dotting my i and crossing my t too! If her problem is with discrimination then what had she done before all this happened to combat this? If she's allowed to stay in the country, to affectively "win", then what will she do to make her adopted country less discriminatory? NOTHING! By the looks of it… She will just go on ahead with her life (as she has every right to do so if she's innocent which I'm inclined to believe she is) The fact is there are hierarchies in the world in every status of society and life is often about negotiating your way through these

I have been living something similar to it with my former partner and I'm pretty sure she is part of russian connection. 😢😢

if she is a spy why doesn't the federal police charge her with espionage and throw her in prison?

Australia has space program? 😂 Don't you just drop things and they fall off the bottom of the planet 😮

The problem I have with these types of accusations is that any evidence or lack thereof is sealed. There is no way they will let her stay regardless of whether the accusations are based on fact or not.

Great reporting skills! ❤

Also suspicious she defends a person who is not her friend saying he isnt a spy? But she really wouldnt know.

60 Minutes Australia, more engaging than the original CBS 60 Minutes from America.

For all slavic nations word "friend" has different meaning than in "english". For us "friend" is very close person, we have much more other words describing just "familiar" people, people from work etc. I could reply the same for question if this guy was my friend. I think she needs good translator who understand those differences.

The old adage: If the law isn't on your side attack the prosecutor. I guess if the facts aren't on your side attack the fact checker - in this case the journalist.

I am not sold. I would hold out a portion of my mind with the possibility she is being truthful and is just having difficulty describing her situation because of emotions

Manipulation of our system,frustrated because she's caught.

If she's a spy, than not a very good one. Unless those inconsistencies are not part of her training to shake off suspicion... ;)

The way she's behaving, maybe there's arrogance there. She caught lying about her friend. Extremely defensive. Work & connections + some of her wordings were quite close to why she's being suspected of. Maybe this was some sort of another tactical manoeuvre to be that obvious :) & see if it works. Some ofc are secretive, sexy or normal etc, ok lol it must be exciting but dangerous.

Her cagey answers are very suspicious!

So basically she could be free if she would leave the host nation of Australia. She is willingly sitting in detention when she could be using her advanced education to live a good life in a nation that wants her. I must wonder what is so special about Australia? I know lots of very educated, important people and none of them have twenty computing or storage devices in their homes. So we will wait and see the evidence brought against her.

I may have got this wrong, but were there any lingering doubts about her while living/working in Ireland ?

Sounds like they are making a mountain out of a mole heap. Russia is decades ahead of Oz in space technology.

What an irony. Facebook for spying

She was working for a civilian organization of which involved Russia. Also aren't all their findings in the programs she's in open access? There are only two major space program launch facilities on earth, one in Russia and the other in America.

Guilty written all over her face, send her packing!!!

The husband is more spy looking personality compare to the wife .. .. Hahaha

She’s not “likeable”, and displays a mood of distrust. I can understand why they don’t trust her.

ASIO : marina, ure a spy? marina : whats ur evidence? ASIO : facebook

Her eye movements at 20:20ish in response to what she is saying is indicting she is not being truthful, she looks up way to much in search of the answers. Also, just from a personal opinion, he eyes are very unsettling to me.

Is she guilty beyond a reasonable doubt?

I love 60 Minutes. I also watched their Peak Oil episodes. Maybe the SPY is True. Love the interview.

Follow the money

Why is he saying "felch" 😂

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck......

She's innocent.

Clearly Innocent until proved guilty does not apply here. Her so called attitude and rudeness mentioned here in the comments is probably because if she is innocent she would justifiably be angry and frustrated. We see this time and time again people accused of being involved with the Russians ( like USA) sometimes it’s proved to be utter nonsense! I’d like to see the actual evidence in this case. I normally enjoy watching Tara but in this case she was not being impartial. Disappointing! 🇬🇧

What a great and professional interviewer!

She is loosing her patience. Needs to loose a lot more

She gives off sociopath vibes. But I can’t put my finger on exactly why

Of course she might be a spy. But I think they should prove that first. Treason is a very serious matter!

Guilty!

Such accusations not happening without a reason. She doesn't look inocent.

I would be more concerned with the Chinese. Everything the Chinese have is a copy of something that another country has made/done.

russian - make that kazakhstan - bxxxx

People are paranoid today. Poor gal…..

He body language her behaviour clearly tells me she is guilty

I feel like this story came out prematurely. With no hard evidence presented and it just being about the accusations made by the AUS gov, this feels more like a personal hit piece against this women rather than hard hitting journalism about something the people need to know. I hope 60 minutes can do an update later with more conclusive information and not just leave this story as is. My fear is that 60 minutes has just drummed up a bunch of hate directed toward an individual, playing off public fears.

I think it's a tell of our times. They have no proof of that she's a spy.

We have a lot of average public servants in Australia, none are in our Spy agencies.