Austrian Army Colonel Suspected of Spying for Russia

A recently retired Austrian army colonel is suspected of having spied for Russia for several decades, reports VOA News.

Speaking to reporters Friday in Vienna, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said that the colonel possibly began spying for Russian intelligence in the 1990s and carried on until 2018.

Kurz said that if such cases are confirmed, whether it be in the Netherlands or in Austria, it cannot improve the relationship between the EU and Russia.”

The parallel refers to the expulsion by the Netherlands in April of four Russian agents who allegedly tried to hack into the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), an international body at The Hague.

Speaking at the same press conference, Austrian Defense Minister Mario Kunasek revealed that the case came to light “a few weeks ago” as a result of information from another European intelligence agency.

Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl has summoned the Russian charg d’affaires over the matter and cancelled an upcoming trip to Russia.

As Russian media reported, Russia’s Foreign Ministry, summoned Austria’s ambassador Friday after Vienna demanded an explanation over the suspected spying activity.