Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger has announced the expulsion of three employees of the Russian embassy. They are suspected of carrying out espionage and wiretapping using special equipment installed on the roofs of the embassy and the diplomatic residence complex in Vienna.
According to ORF, the Russian side intercepted satellite Internet traffic via a “forest of antennas” on roofs, including those of international organizations in Vienna (UN, OSCE, IAEA). The Austrian side had demanded in April that the suspects’ diplomatic immunity be lifted, but after Moscow refused, the expulsion decision followed.
This is the 14th case of expulsion of Russian diplomats from Austria since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has announced that it will “respond strongly” to this step.
