# Ambassadors’ wives quit Canberra club over Russian membership vote

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/messy-falling-out-tears-australias-diplomatic-wives-society-apart-inside-the-war-engulfing-the-womens-international-club-as-mass-walkout-sparks-wild-bigot-allegation/
- Published: 2026-11-10T00:37:11+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-10T00:47:41+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16279575/ukraine-russia-diplomat-wifes-sandie-kaine-bigot.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Europe, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Three diplomats’ wives resigned after the club admitted the Russian ambassador’s wife.
- Ukraine’s ambassador alleges the president called them “bigots”; she denies it.
- A former member says she heard the remark at the 28 October meeting.

## Summary

A Canberra social club has become embroiled in a public dispute after the wives of the Ukrainian, Italian and Estonian ambassadors resigned over members voting to admit the Russian ambassador’s wife. Ukraine’s ambassador, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, said the club’s president called the three women “bigots” at a meeting; president Sandie Kaine denies using the term.

The alleged remark was said to have been made at the club’s annual general meeting on 28 October, attended by about 250 people. Former member Marta Stachurski, who also resigned, says she heard it and argued that objecting to socialising with representatives of Russia over its invasion of Ukraine is a matter of principle. The club says it has more than 300 members from 50 countries and promotes friendship and cultural exchange.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.