UK tip-off exposed ‘Russian spy’ in Austria

Displeasure at Vienna’s refusal to distance itself from Moscow said to be behind British warning

BRITISH intelligence provided the tipoff that led to the arrest of a retired Austrian army officer on suspicion of spying for Russia, it has been claimed.

The tip-off was politically motivated and came amid British displeasure at the Austrian government’s refusal to distance itself from Russia in the wake of the Skripal poisoning, the Kleine Zeitung newspaper alleged.

British and Austrian authorities declined to confirm or comment on the reports. Sebastian Kurz, the Austrian chancellor, said last week that the case had been brought to its attention by a “friendly intelligence service” tip-off.

The suspect, an unnamed 70-yearold retired colonel, is being held on charges of a spying for Moscow over a 20-year period. He is alleged to have passed details of Austrian weapons systems and other secrets to Russia in exchange for payments of €300,000 (£260,000).

The case has severely shaken the normally warm relations between Austria and Russia. Mr Kurz, who previously spoke of wanting his country to be a “bridge” between Russia and the West, has demanded an explanation from Moscow.

Initial reports last week suggested that the tip-off came from Germany, but Kleine Zeitung quoted an unnamed “senior officer” in the Austrian army as saying it had come from Britain.

The officer believes British intelligence acted deliberately to help distance Austria from Russia, it claimed.

Austria was one of the few Western countries not to expel any Russian diplomats in the wake of the Skripal poisoning in Salisbury last March, and senior figures in the Austrian government have close links to Russia.

President Vladimir Putin was a guest at the wedding of Karin Kneissl, Austria’s foreign minister, in August and danced with her in front of the cameras. She has cancelled a trip to Moscow in the wake of the spying arrest.

Britain has not commented on the press claims, but Government sources said last week: “It is interesting that this is a spying operation against a country that has a mixed reputation when it comes to its relationship with Russia.

“This is another Russian intelligence operation against a European nation... that was exposed, once again, as a result of European co-operation. Russian behaviour continues to be egregious and widespread. The threat is a reality.”

Opposition parties have accused the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPO), the junior partner in the country’s coalition government, of being too close to Russia. “One of the biggest security risks is the links between the Russian leadership and the FPO,” said Peter Pilz, the leader of the opposition Pilz List party, last week.

Ms Kneissl is officially independent but was nominated as foreign minister by the FPO, which also controls the Austrian interior and defence ministries as part of a coalition deal with the centre-right Austrian People’s Party.

Russia has reacted angrily to the allegations and accused Austria of “megaphone diplomacy”. Last week, Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said: “We are accused and asked to apologise for something we know nothing about.”