Espionage for Russia: Former Austrian agent sentenced to more than four years in prison

An Austrian court on Wednesday found former domestic intelligence officer Egisto Ott guilty of spying for Russia. He is accused of helping Moscow track down its opponents and of passing on or selling sensitive equipment, including state-owned laptops and phones, at the behest of Jan Marsalek, described as a suspected Moscow agent.

This case is considered the most significant espionage case in Austria since the 2020 conviction of a retired colonel for years of working for Russia. It highlights the extent of influence and intelligence operations attributed to Moscow in Europe, against a backdrop of persistent tensions between Russia and Western countries.

The court also found Egisto Ott guilty of abuse of power, bribery, and breach of trust. The 63-year-old was sentenced to four years and one month in prison. The former agent has consistently denied the charges against him since his trial began in January.

Egisto Ott, who was present at the hearing dressed in a dark suit, did not react to the verdict, according to reports. His lawyer, Anna Mair, indicated that he remained "calm" and that he intended to appeal the decision.

The investigation revealed that the former agent allegedly conducted unauthorized searches of police databases to locate individuals wanted by Moscow. Among them was Dmitry Senin, a former Russian intelligence agent who had sought asylum in Montenegro.

The case is also linked to former Wirecard executive Jan Marsalek, who is now a fugitive and presumed to be living in Russia. According to several European legal proceedings, he allegedly played a central role in a Russian espionage network involving multiple operations across the continent, notably highlighted by a London court ruling concerning a network he is said to have headed.