Austria expelled three Russian diplomats accused of engaging in signals espionage related to satellite communications, officials said yesterday in Vienna [1]. The diplomats, described as embassy employees by Austrian public broadcaster ORF and confirmed by the foreign ministry, have already left the country [1].
Vienna hosts a large diplomatic community and has long been a focus for espionage concerns. Domestic intelligence officials have monitored numerous satellite dishes on buildings used by Russian state entities in the city for years, viewing the installations as threatening due to their size and nature, according to Sylvia Mayer, head of Austria’s domestic intelligence agency [1]. Mayer did not specify when the installations came under scrutiny.
Since 2020, Austria has expelled 14 Russian diplomats, including the latest three, as tensions over intelligence activities have escalated [1]. Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger said, "It is unacceptable that diplomatic immunity be used to commit espionage," emphasizing the government’s stance against misuse of diplomatic privileges [1].
The Russian embassy in Vienna did not immediately comment, but the Russian news agency RIA quoted Moscow as saying it would respond harshly to Austria’s actions [1].
Austria’s move underlines ongoing concerns about covert intelligence operations linked to satellite communications targeting European countries. The diplomats’ departure yesterday closes the latest chapter in a series of expulsions tied to espionage threats in the Austrian capital.
Austrian authorities have not announced further actions or investigations connected to the expelled diplomats as of now [1].
