Ex-Austrian intelligence officer allegedly sold secrets to Russia with help from Wirecard fugitive Marsalek; German links suspected

Egisto O., a former employee of Austria's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism, has been accused of procuring and selling sensitive data to the Russian intelligence services. The betrayal was reportedly instigated by his former superior Martin W., acting under the direction of fugitive Wirecard manager Jan Marsalek. German authorities have also shown interest due to evidence that Marsalek had accomplices in Berlin who facilitated courier operations transferring cash from Germany to Austria to collect encrypted laptops containing secret information. This data allegedly included sensitive government information relevant to Russia. Egisto O. was arrested and is under investigation, with new allegations confirming he passed three mobile phones belonging to senior Austrian Interior Ministry officials to Russian intelligence in mid-2022. Supporting evidence stems largely from Telegram chat messages linked to a Bulgarian group spying for Russia under Marsalek's orders. The encrypted SINA laptop, transferred in November 2022, is certified for top secret data storage by Germany’s BSI agency. Marsalek claimed the laptop was delivered without difficulty to the FSB headquarters in Moscow. The case underscores the reach of Russian espionage leveraging insiders and facilitated by criminal courier networks across Europe. Egisto O. denies the allegations, claiming to be victim of an internal security service conspiracy.