On January 22, 2026, Vienna hosts Austria's largest espionage trial against Egisto Ott, a former intelligence officer charged with spying on behalf of Russia. Prosecutors' 172-page indictment accuses Ott of unauthorized secret service work, misuse of authority, and breach of official secrecy harming Austria in favor of Russia. Ott reportedly searched government databases for persons later targeted by intelligence services connected to Jan Marsalek, the former Wirecard executive wanted internationally and believed to be working for Russia's FSB in Moscow. Marsalek allegedly led a Bulgarian spy ring convicted in London in 2025 for acting on Russia's behalf. This network spied on Austrian investigative journalist Anna Thalhammer and Bulgarian journalist Christo Grozev, the latter facing kidnapping and murder threats. Ott stands accused of providing service phones from the Austrian Interior Ministry to Marsalek's agents to transport to Moscow, including a secure laptop for which he was paid 20,000 euros. Additionally, Ott prepared a report analyzing vulnerabilities in a notorious Berlin assassination attributed to Russian agents, advising on future covert killings within the EU. Ott denies all allegations; his lawyer declined comment before trial. The prosecution and journalists emphasize the case's importance in exposing Russia's espionage as a hybrid warfare tool targeting Austria and Europe. The investigation has broader implications for Austrian security and political responsibility.

On January 22, 2026, Vienna hosts Austria's largest espionage trial against Egisto Ott, a former intelligence officer charged with spying on behalf of Russia. Prosecutors' 172-page indictment accuses Ott of unauthorized secret service work, misuse of authority, and breach of official secrecy harming Austria in favor of Russia. Ott reportedly searched government databases for persons later targeted by intelligence services connected to Jan Marsalek, the former Wirecard executive wanted internationally and believed to be working for Russia's FSB in Moscow. Marsalek allegedly led a Bulgarian spy ring convicted in London in 2025 for acting on Russia's behalf. This network spied on Austrian investigative journalist Anna Thalhammer and Bulgarian journalist Christo Grozev, the latter facing kidnapping and murder threats. Ott stands accused of providing service phones from the Austrian Interior Ministry to Marsalek's agents to transport to Moscow, including a secure laptop for which he was paid 20,000 euros. Additionally, Ott prepared a report analyzing vulnerabilities in a notorious Berlin assassination attributed to Russian agents, advising on future covert killings within the EU. Ott denies all allegations; his lawyer declined comment before trial. The prosecution and journalists emphasize the case's importance in exposing Russia's espionage as a hybrid warfare tool targeting Austria and Europe. The investigation has broader implications for Austrian security and political responsibility.