Austria has expelled three Russian diplomats on suspicion of espionage

This is according to Reuters, citing the Austrian government.

Austria has expelled three Russian diplomats on suspicion of espionage.

The government stated that the issue concerns equipment on the roofs of diplomatic buildings, which could have been used to intercept signals.

According to Reuters, a large number of satellite dishes on buildings used by the Russian state in Vienna have long attracted attention.

This is particularly true of the residential complex for diplomatic staff.

Austrian domestic intelligence had been warning for several years that such installations could be used to intercept other countries’ satellite communications.

Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger confirmed that three Russian diplomats had been declared persona non grata.

“It is unacceptable for diplomatic immunity to be used for espionage,” she said.

According to the minister, the diplomats have already left Austria.

This brings the total number of Russian diplomats expelled by Austria since 2020 to 14.

Austrian broadcaster ORF reported that the expelled Russians were embassy staff.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry confirmed ORF’s report but did not disclose further details.

The Russian embassy in Vienna did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

Meanwhile, the Russian news agency RIA quoted the Russian embassy as saying that Moscow would react harshly to this decision.

Why were the antennas considered a threat?

During a press conference, the head of Austrian domestic intelligence – the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence – Silvia Mayer was asked why these installations posed a particular threat.

She replied that the reason was linked to their size and nature.

However, Mayer declined to comment on why the diplomats were expelled at this particular time.

Reuters notes that Vienna is an important diplomatic hub.

The city is home to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and UN bodies, including the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Major powers, including Russia and the US, often have separate ambassadors in Austria, to the OSCE and to UN organisations.

Each of these representations may operate as a separate embassy or mission.

Vienna has long had a reputation as a city where intelligence services are active.

After the Second World War, the Austrian capital was divided into Allied sectors.

The significant diplomatic presence in the city creates opportunities for intelligence agents to be stationed under diplomatic cover.

Such cover grants them diplomatic immunity.

As reported by ThePublic, a Russian spy who was ‘leaking’ data on military aid to Ukraine has been detained in Berlin.

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