A West Australian councillor, Adrian McRae, has sparked controversy by endorsing Vladimir Putin's election victory on Russian state television. McRae, who was elected to the Port Hedland council this year, praised Putin's "transparent and comprehensive" victory, despite widespread criticism from Western leaders who condemned the election as undemocratic.
McRae's trip to Russia was facilitated by an invitation from the Russian government, and he claims to have served as an official foreign observer for the election. However, the Russian embassy has confirmed his participation in the election observation program. McRae's travel to Russia and the Middle East has prevented him from being formally sworn in as a council member.
McRae's endorsement of Putin has raised concerns about the influence of totalitarian regimes on former government officials. Experts have noted that such regimes often seek to gain credibility by courting former officials, who may not fully understand the differences between democratic and authoritarian systems.
Despite travel advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) against traveling to Russia due to the security situation, McRae has defended his decision to visit the country. He claims to have received an award from former Russian presidential candidate Sergey Baburin for his work in strengthening friendships between Russia and Australia.