Austrian FM cancels Moscow visit over spy scandal: report
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
09.11.2018 12:48
Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl has canceled a planned visit to Moscow amid suspicions that a recently retired military officer in her country was a long-time Russian spy, according to a report.
Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl dances with Russian President Vladimir Putin during her wedding in Gamlitz, Austria, in August. Photo: EPA/ROLAND SCHLAGER
The foreign ministry in Vienna has summoned the Russian chargé d'affaires over the scandal, Polish public broadcaster TVP Info reported on Friday.
The retired colonel is believed to have been spying for Russia while in active service from the 1990s onward, TVP Info reported, citing Austrian daily newspaper Kronen Zeitung.
The man was allegedly paid some EUR 300,000 for his services, Kronen Zeitung said, according to TVP Info.
Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Defence Minister Mario Kunasek have confirmed that prosecutors were investigating the suspected spying, according to TVP Info.
(gs)
Source: tvp.info