VIENNA (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 11th November, 2018) The Russian Embassy in Austria refused to comment on local media reports claiming that a member of the Austrian counterintelligence service is suspected of espionage, allegedly in favor of Russia, which came just days after the spy scandal involving a retired Austrian colonel.
Earlier on Sunday, the Kronen Zeitung newspaper reported that a member of the Austrian counterintelligence service � the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism � is reportedly suspected of disclosing state secrets in favor of Russia. According to the outlet, Austrian prosecutors have been conducting an investigation into the intelligence officer for a year.
"No comments," the embassy's spokesman, Bulat Khaydarov, told Sputnik.
On Friday, the same news outlet reported that a former colonel of Austrian Armed Forces was suspected of having spied for Russia for 20 years. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz later confirmed the reports and demanded that the Russian side provided "transparent" information on the matter.
On the same day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that he was unpleasantly surprised by the situation. The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Austrian Ambassador to Russia Johannes Aigner and expressed protest over the espionage case.
In the wake of the colonel's detention, Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl canceled her upcoming visit to Russia and summoned the Russian charge d'affaires.
