Austria expels three Russian diplomats over alleged spying devices

VIENNA: Austria has expelled three Russian diplomats after authorities flagged surveillance concerns linked to satellite equipment installed on diplomatic buildings in Vienna, the government said on Monday.

The Foreign Ministry said the diplomats were declared personae non gratae over what it described as an “antenna forest” — a large cluster of satellite dishes mounted on Russian state-linked properties, including a residential complex for diplomatic staff.

Officials said the installations had long been under observation by Austria’s domestic intelligence service, which suspected they could be used to intercept satellite communications of other countries.

“It is unacceptable that diplomatic immunity be used for espionage activities,” Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger said, confirming that the diplomats had already left Austria. The move brings to 14 the total number of Russian diplomats expelled by Vienna since 2020.

Public broadcaster ORF reported that the expelled individuals were embassy employees, a claim the Foreign Ministry did not dispute but declined to elaborate on.

The Russian embassy in Vienna did not immediately comment. However, Russian state news agency RIA quoted the embassy as saying Moscow would respond “harshly” to the decision.

Sylvia Mayer, head of Austria’s Directorate for State Security and Intelligence, said the decision was based on the size and nature of the installations but declined to comment on the timing of the expulsions.

Vienna hosts several major international organisations, including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and United Nations agencies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), making it one of the world’s key diplomatic hubs.

The Austrian capital has long been regarded as a centre for intelligence activity due to its large diplomatic presence, a legacy of its Cold War-era status as a divided Allied city.