132:. Austrian companies, especially in the energy sector, have become deeply entwined with Russia; at the end of 2021 Russian companies held $ 25.5 billion assets in Austria. Russia was per 2022 the second largest investor in Austria, after Germany. According to an estimate from the Bank for International Settlements, Austrian banks in 2022 were exposed to $ 17.5 billion in Russian debt. Before the 2022 war, Austria got 80% of its natural gas from Russia, while 1/4 of all Russian gas deliveries to the
109:. According to Siegfried Beer, founder of the Austrian Center for Intelligence, Propaganda and Security Studies, "he Austrian government was eager to remain neutral. So it developed an atmosphere in which everybody was pretty cosy and profited from each other. Espionage was a business. It still is. It brings a lot of people with a lot of money and a lot of support into the country." According to
351:, American officials threatened to withdraw from a security conference in the Netherlands if Ott attended. The ultimatum led to a search warrant, but produced little important evidence. Despite this, Ott was transferred to a police academy, where he is accused of having requested hundreds of illegal searches in personal information databases, including on
334:
of the
Foreign Ministry, at a time when the Ministry was led by the controversially pro-Russian Freedom Party member Karin Kneissl; there is no indication in investigative documents that she was aware of the plan. Ott was also in possession of an analysis of the shortcomings of Russia's Berlin operation, with recommendations of how to improve it.
231:
Innsbruck, it is "common knowledge" that agents often try to recruit
Austrian informants, stating "he Secret Services are very active in Austria on a bilateral basis, trying to win over informants from various institutions". In 2018, Siegfried Beer estimated that the amount of spies masquerading as diplomats in Austria was around 7000.
318:, has claimed that while doing investigations in Austria, he was surveilled by Austrian intelligence at the explicit order of Russia. Due to Russia's "deep penetration" of Austria, he has called it the least safe European country; he later fled country after being told by Austrian authorities that it was unsafe for him to stay.
341:. Weiss has admitted passing on requests for searches into personal data and background information, which he would submit to Ott on behalf of Marsalek. German officials are probing links between Marsalek and Russian intelligence, including whether his former company served as a money laundering operation for Russian money.
333:
Former
Austrian intelligence officer and undercover agent handler Egisto Ott is suspected of selling state secrets to Russia, as well as giving information on Kremlin enemies in the West. He is also accused of forming a plan with other officers to reorganize the security services as a new department
222:
reported both
British MI5 and the Dutch intelligence agency "heavily restricted" intelligence sharing with Austria, primarily due to the ties between the Freedom Party and Russia. The Freedom Party, a junior coalition partner in the Kurz government, controlled most of the security apparatus, as well
237:
NBC reported in 2018 that the pro-Russian
Freedom Party's control of intelligence services "led to fears that Western secrets aren't safe any more" in Austria. Gustav Gressel, a former desk officer at the Austrian Ministry of Defense, predicted "Austria is part of the European Union defense policy,
66:
has described
Austria as "Russia's tunnel into the heart of Europe" and that Austria is a "compromised state", with the country's attachment to neutrality leading it to cultivate "obsequious relations with Russian energy and espionage". Because of this, Eastern Europeans have at times referred to
230:
According to Chris Miller, professor at the
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, the "Austrian and Hungarian governments are notorious for their open-door attitude toward Russian agents". According to Gerhard Mangott, Professor of International Relations at the University of
213:
states that
Austria's European partners consider Austria's intelligence services and defense ministry to be "jeopardised" and "unreliable". Financial Times, quoting an anonymous source, referred to Austria as a "veritable aircraft carrier" of Russian intelligence activity, and Austria's defense
92:
Austria's moved towards official neutrality in the 1950s, with laws only making espionage a crime if directed against
Austria. There is also a high concentration of nongovernmental and international organizations in Austria, influencing its attractiveness for foreign intelligence. Among others,
400:
After the invasion, OMV announced an inquiry into Rainer Seele's tenure, a German national, looking into contracts said to have made
Austria dependent on Russian gas. Mark Garrett, chairman of OMV's supervisory board, told shareholders in June that "ooking back, we have to conclude that the
330:. It was one of the reasons for the dissolution of the domestic intelligence agency BVT, and the severing or curtailing of intelligence sharing by some other European intelligence agencies. Ott himself has denied all allegations, claiming a conspiracy against him for being a whistle-blower.
241:
In 2018, an Austrian colonel came under investigation on allegations he had spied for Russia since the 1990s. The case was described as a "particular embarrassment to Austria" by the BBC. In 2020, the man was sentenced for betraying state secrets and spying for the GRU for over 25 years.
218:. An Austrian official refused to comment on anonymous allegations, but pointed to an ongoing reform in the security services. Several European intelligence agencies is said to have restricted intelligence-sharing with Austrian intelligence officials. Among others,
397:(RBI) having a large presence in Russia. RBI is Austria's second-biggest bank, and made 35% of its 2021 profits in Russia. Also located in Vienna is offshoots of Lukoil, Gazprom and Sibur. Several oligarchs have also invested heavily in Austrian property.
101:. In addition to embassies, countries may have up to two additional diplomatic missions to the international organisations, giving diplomatic immunity. Austria's history as a center of espionage is also due to its location centrally in Europe: during the
257:
224:
74:
344:
Ott had been under suspicion for years before his arrest in 2021. Early in 2017, Austrian officials had allegedly been warned by CIA that Ott was suspected of selling information to Russia. In November that year, according to
382:, Austrian officials have "accelerated a reckoning" on Russian influence, launching probes and hearings on Russian interference in intelligence services and business links of Austrian political figures to Russian companies.
171:, there has been a "revolving door between the highest ranks of the Austrian government and major Russian state companies". High-ranking Austrian officials moving to Russian business include former chancellors
416:
discoveries, Austria expelled four Russian diplomats although only stating the diplomats had "acted in a way that is inconsistent with their diplomatic status". This was described as a "highly unusual step" by
264:, due to concern from members of leaks, it was still a member. In an annual report, the BVT has itself stated that Austria is a "favored area of operations" for a "high" number of spies. BVT head
94:
326:
The Ott case has become emblematic of "Russia's deep penetration of European Union member Austria in politics and industry as well as the intelligence field", according to
113:, "Russian diplomatic presence in Vienna is abnormally large and its enormous permanent mission to the United Nations is, experts believe, a hub of intelligence activity".
245:
In 2019, German federal police (BKA) raised concerns that Austrian intelligence agents aided Russian intelligence services, alleging two Austrian agents – one of them
848:
401:
investments made in Russia after 2015 were based on too much trust in Russia and Russia's role in the international community". Austria had been a major investor in
234:
Austria's role as a neutral "spy haven" played a part in it being the setting in 2010 for the largest spy swap between the U.S. and Russia since the First Cold War.
157:
289:
In June 2020, a retired member of the Austrian military was sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of spying for Russian authorities.
143:
Cultural ties are also close, with a prominent Russian presence in several Austrian cultural institutions. Austria's role in foreign intelligence inspired
459:
286:, vice chancellor and Freedom Party leader, apparently accepting an offer of financing from a woman pretending to be the niece of a Russian oligarch.
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405:, initially resisting scrapping the project in the wake of the Russian invasion. Less than two weeks after OMV announcing an investigation,
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Politically, ties between Austria and Russia have been warm and, to some partners, controversial. Political ties with the far-right
46:
Austria's role in espionage, particularly as a base for Russian intelligence operations, has been noted by several media outlets.
667:
308:
stated Peterlik is suspected of giving classified documents to a former Austrian secret agent accused of spying for Russia.
337:
Between 2017 and 2021, Ott is alleged to have been working with former intelligence official Martin Weiss, and businessman
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430:
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292:
In 2021, Austrian diplomat Johannes Peterlik came under investigation for leaking confidential documents related to the
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as "regarded as being so compromised that for a time it was cut out of much European intelligence sharing activity".
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as an opinion columnist. Tensions with the West increased after the Kurz government took office in December 2017.
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Austria's close relationship with Russia has strained relations and co-operation with several Western countries.
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in 2022, Russian influence and intelligence in Austria came under wider international and domestic scrutiny.
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24:
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827:"Bellingcat's Christo Grozev: 'Prigozhin will either be dead or there will be a second coup'"
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296:. Peterlik had been the highest ranking civil servant at the ministry from 2018 to 2020.
249:– had passed on sensitive information to Russia. The German statement came weeks after a
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696:"'Tip of the iceberg': rise in Russian spying activity alarms European capitals"
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460:"As fighting rages in Ukraine, Europeans are trying to root out Russian spies"
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informed that despite the agency not taking part in the working groups of the
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in 2014, Austria was the first Western country to welcome Putin for a visit.
849:"Putin hijacked Austria's spy service. Now he's going after its government"
727:"UK, Dutch spy agencies curb intel flow to Austria over Russia ties - MP"
390:
510:"After invasion of Ukraine, a reckoning on Russian influence in Austria"
588:
406:
192:
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36:
28:
275:, Austria was one of few EU countries not to expel Russian diplomats.
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and whatever is agreed and discussed there will be leaked to Moscow".
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129:
32:
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In 1968 Austria became the first western European country to import
56:
stated it is "widely regarded as the spying capital of the world".
589:"Vienna, nest of spies: Why Austria is still centre for espionage"
386:
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as the Defence Ministry and Interior Ministry — and therefore the
121:
776:"Germany Raised Concerns With Austria About Spy Links to Russia"
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informed they would cut the volume of gas delivered to Austria.
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The Austrian authorities report that Ott received €20,000 for a
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that authorities had concluded it was done on behalf of Russia.
268:
estimated it consisted of "a community of hundreds of people".
57:
53:
19:
There has for years been a controversial relationship between
750:"Austrian court convicts former colonel of spying for Russia"
31:
has for decades been a center for intelligence activities in
801:"Austria diplomat accused of Novichok document leak, spying"
549:"Austria's tilt toward Russia worries intelligence experts"
133:
73:
have referred to the Austrian domestic intelligence agency
120:
gas. Austria grew to a major hub for delivering gas to
251:
Georgian of Chechen descent was assassinated in Berlin
67:
Austria as "Russia's Trojan horse in Western Europe".
633:"Austria is Russia's tunnel into the heart of Europe"
385:
Austria initially opposed disconnecting Russia from
187:
respectively. Additionally, former foreign minister
95:
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
774:Nardelli, Alberto; Henning, Eyk (20 October 2021).
694:Jones, Sam; Rathbone, John Paul (27 March 2022).
668:"Austria is rethinking its cosy ties with Russia"
508:Faiola, Anthony; Mekhennet, Souad (5 July 2022).
282:collapsed in 2019, after a video emerged showing
60:has referred to it as a "centre for espionage".
547:Smith, Alexander; Eckardt, Andy (22 May 2018).
214:ministry as "practically a department of the
52:has called Vienna "a haunt for spies", while
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149:, which was inspired by Austrian journalist
16:Surveillance ties between Austria and Russia
820:
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458:Atlamazoglou, Constantine (25 April 2022).
393:being located in Vienna, and Austrian bank
167:have been particularly close. According to
864:"Austria expelling four Russian diplomats"
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179:, who became members of the boards of
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412:On 7 April 2022, in the wake of the
253:, on behalf of Russian authorities.
803:. Daily Sabah. AFP. 30 October 2021
97:(OSCE) and one headquarters of the
39:, it has been considered a hub for
587:Bell, Bethany (17 November 2018).
389:, with the European subsidiary of
278:The Kurz government including the
14:
862:Murphy, Francois (7 April 2022).
23:. Due to domestic policies and a
748:Oltermann, Philip (9 Jun 2020).
21:Austria and Russian intelligence
825:Luce, Edward (11 August 2023).
195:, as well as began writing for
1:
897:Russian intelligence agencies
631:Hoare, Liam (12 April 2022).
395:Raiffeisen Bank International
136:flowing through the Austrian
436:Russian espionage in Germany
670:. The Economist. 7 May 2022
380:Russian invasion of Ukraine
374:Russian invasion of Ukraine
82:Russian invasion of Ukraine
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892:Law enforcement in Austria
256:Also in 2019, the head of
907:Austria–Russia relations
431:Austria–Russia relations
378:In the wake of the 2022
729:. Reuters. 9 April 2019
284:Heinz-Christian Strache
93:Vienna is home to the
25:history of neutrality
158:annexation of Crimea
41:Russian intelligence
514:The Washington Post
361:The Washington Post
328:The Washington Post
271:In the wake of the
169:The Washington Post
462:. Business Insider
294:Skripal poisonings
273:Skripal poisonings
156:After the Russian
829:. Financial Times
698:. Financial Times
173:Wolfgang SchĂĽssel
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312:Christo Grozev
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99:United Nations
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778:. Bloomberg
368:SINA laptop
359:, who told
886:Categories
551:. NBC News
442:References
353:Bellingcat
348:Die Presse
316:Bellingcat
299:Die Presse
247:Egisto Ott
138:Baumgarten
88:Background
80:After the
902:Espionage
866:. Reuters
833:15 August
355:director
870:3 August
807:4 August
782:4 August
759:3 August
733:3 August
702:2 August
674:4 August
639:1 August
595:3 August
466:4 August
425:See also
391:Sberbank
322:Ott case
203:Overview
555:31 July
519:31 July
407:Gazprom
220:Reuters
193:Rosneft
191:joined
126:Germany
37:Belgium
29:Austria
181:Lukoil
130:France
118:Soviet
33:Europe
591:. BBC
387:Swift
140:hub.
122:Italy
872:2022
835:2023
809:2022
784:2022
761:2022
735:2022
704:2022
676:2022
641:2022
597:2022
557:2022
521:2022
468:2022
302:and
183:and
175:and
128:and
258:BVT
225:BVT
216:GRU
75:BVT
58:BBC
54:NBC
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197:RT
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134:EU
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