Status: 12/19/2022 11:37 a.m
In Austria, a Greek has been exposed as a suspected spy for Russia. He is said to have received special military training in Russia and worked for the Russian military intelligence service GRU.
According to Austrian investigators, a 39-year-old Greek man was suspected of being a spy for the Russian military intelligence service GRU. The man of Russian descent is suspected of having provided information on political and social discourses in Austria in connection with the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, said the Interior Ministry in Vienna.
The investigations by the Directorate for State Security and Intelligence were conducted on behalf of the Vienna Public Prosecutor’s Office and in close international cooperation. The penal code provides for a prison sentence of up to five years for supporting a foreign secret service to the detriment of Austria.
Contact with diplomats and secret service employees
According to the information, the suspect is the son of a former Russian secret service employee who is said to have been stationed in Germany and Austria as a diplomat during his active service. The 39-year-old received special military training in Russia, it said.
He is said to have been in contact with diplomats and intelligence officials from different countries. He was in Moscow shortly before and during the Russian attack on Ukraine. He may have provided information to gauge foreign reactions to the invasion.
Made suspicious by many trips
Among other things, a signal detector for detecting listening devices and hidden cameras as well as a splinter protection suit were found on the suspect, who is currently at large. According to the information, mobile phones and computers with ten million files were also secured.
The man made himself suspicious due to his many trips. From 2018 to early 2022 he made a total of 65 trips to other European countries as well as to Russia, Belarus, Turkey and Georgia. In addition, he has acquired several properties in Vienna, Russia and Greece, although his official income is low, according to the ministry.