Austria expels 3 Russian Embassy staff over suspected antenna spying in Vienna
The foreign ministry said the diplomats used rooftop antennas to intercept satellite internet data from international organizations, and all three have already left Austria.
- On Monday, Austria expelled three Russian Embassy employees suspected of espionage, citing their use of antennas on diplomatic buildings to intercept satellite data from international organizations in Vienna.
- Authorities suspected the diplomats of spying activities in Vienna and the Donaustadt district, but Russia refused requests to lift their immunity for investigation, forcing the expulsions.
- Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger stated Austria is tightening espionage laws to protect international organizations, declaring it "unacceptable" for diplomatic immunity to facilitate spying.
- In a Telegram post on Monday, Moscow labeled the decision "outrageous," warning that Vienna bears responsibility for the further deterioration of bilateral relations to a historical low.
- Austria, a European Union member with a policy of military neutrality, was initially hesitant to take such action but has recently expelled more Russian diplomats amid broader regional tensions since 2022.
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98 Articles
After Austria announced the expulsion of three Russian embassy employees from the country, Moscow called the decision unjustified and politically motivated and promised a harsh response. The employees were expelled on suspicion of espionage.
Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger called the use of diplomatic immunity for this type of activity “unacceptable”. Moscow announces that it will react harshly to the expulsion. More information: Poland reopens the spying process against Pablo González, Putin’s ‘Spanish spy’: up to 15 years in prison
The three members of the embassy would be collecting data from national and international organizations based in Vienna, through antennas installed on the roofs of the diplomatic representation.
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