VIENNA (AP) – Austrian authorities revealed on Monday that they have exposed a disinformation campaign orchestrated by Russian intelligence, aimed at undermining perceptions of Ukraine. This revelation followed the arrest in December of a Bulgarian woman, who is alleged to have been involved in espionage activities for Russia.
According to a statement from Austria's Interior Ministry, the country’s domestic intelligence agency discovered substantial evidence of the campaign while examining devices seized during a search of the suspect’s residence. Investigative findings indicated that shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, a cell associated with Russian intelligence was established, with the objective of implementing a widespread disinformation initiative targeting German-speaking nations, particularly Austria.
This disinformation group operated primarily online but also employed physical means, including the use of stickers and graffiti. The content displayed far-right symbols and nationalist statements that were designed to mislead observers into believing that pro-Ukrainian activists were responsible for these messages, the Interior Ministry reported.
The Bulgarian suspect has not been publicly identified but is believed to have played a significant role in the disinformation efforts, acting as an intelligence contact within the cell. The ministry's statement noted that she has confessed to having contributed to the group's activities, particularly during the year 2022.
The investigation into this incident comes on the heels of Austria's most significant espionage scandal in decades, which unfolded a year earlier. This scandal involved the arrest of a former Austrian intelligence officer, who faced accusations of divulging cellphone data from former high-ranking Austrian officials to Russian intelligence. Additionally, he was implicated in a plot related to a burglary at the residence of a prominent journalist.
This former officer, who was subsequently released from custody, is under suspicion for providing sensitive information to Jan Marsalek. Marsalek is a fugitive Austrian sought on fraud allegations, stemming from the 2020 collapse of the German payment company Wirecard, where he served as chief operating officer. Arrest warrants revealed that chat messages supplied by British authorities establish a direct link between Marsalek and the Russian FSB intelligence agency.
This series of events illustrates the ongoing challenges faced by Austria in countering foreign influence and disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilizing the political climate in the region, particularly concerning narratives around the Ukraine conflict. As the investigation unfolds, the implications of these findings could further affect Austria's national security strategies and its diplomatic relationship with Russia.
