The end of neutrality: How Austria is getting rid of Russian spies

Austria has historically been a significant hub for Soviet and Russian espionage, with the Kremlin's diplomatic mission packed with intelligence operatives. Until recently, Austria expelled very few Russian spies, but the creation of a new anti-espionage agency, the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, in December 2021 marked a turning point. On March 13, 2024, Austria announced the expulsion of two Russian diplomats for espionage-related activities—part of a recent series that saw six expulsions in two years. Key known operatives include GRU and SVR officers embedded within the Russian Embassy in Vienna. Past incidents highlight Austria's previous tolerance or passive complicity, such as the 2007 scandal involving a Roscosmos employee linked to GRU espionage and failure to prevent contract killings of Kremlin critics on Austrian soil. The expulsions have sparked retaliatory statements from Russia accusing Austria of degrading bilateral relations. The new agency’s leadership under Omar Haijawi-Pirchner and stricter counterintelligence efforts mark Austria's clear departure from its traditional policy of neutrality.