- Austria’s Minister of Justice is aiming to tighten regulations on espionage, which currently allows spying on other countries and international organizations, but not within Austria.
- The move follows the arrest of a former Austrian intelligence officer on suspicion of spying for Russia.
- Austria, an EU member state with military neutrality, hosts various international organizations in Vienna, including the United Nations and OPEC.
Austria’s justice minister announced Thursday that the country plans to tighten the country’s rules on espionage. Espionage is currently explicitly prohibited when directed within Austria, but not when targeting other countries or international organizations.
Justice Minister Alma Zadic’s push to strengthen Austria’s laws comes amid a spotlight on domestic espionage following the arrest of a former Austrian intelligence officer on suspicion of spying for Russia.
Austria is a member state of the European Union with a policy of military neutrality. The capital, Vienna, is home to several United Nations agencies as well as international groups such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
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Austria’s criminal law currently states that anyone who “establishes or operates a secret intelligence service to the detriment of the Republic of Austria, or in any way assists such an intelligence service” is subject to a prison term of between six months and five years. It is determined that it will be done. It also prohibits the establishment, operation, or support of “military intelligence services” for “foreign powers or supranational or international entities,” and can be punishable by up to two years in prison.
Austrian Minister of Justice Alma Zadic attends the first parliamentary session in Vienna, Austria, January 10, 2020. Zadic on Thursday unveiled plans to tighten domestic regulations on spying. Espionage is currently explicitly prohibited when directed within Austria, but not when targeting other countries or international organizations. (AP Photo/Ronald Zack, File)
Zadic said in a statement to the Austrian Press Agency that the country has long been accused of being a “fertile island” for intelligence agencies around the world, adding that “gaps in the law have made it difficult for foreign intelligence agencies to spy on us”. has been forgiven,” he lamented. Not punishable in Austria. ”
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“In the future, we will be able to prevent espionage so that our law enforcement authorities can respond even when foreign spies target not domestic spies, but international organizations based here, such as the United Nations or friendly countries. “We want to expand the provisions,” she said.
Zadic is a member of the Green Party, a sub-party in Prime Minister Karl Nehammer’s coalition government. Interior Minister Gerhard Kerner, a member of Nehammer’s Austrian People’s Party, told Oe1 radio that he recognized the need for tougher penalties for espionage, but the Greens had balked at calling through messenger services. He once again asked authorities to allow wiretapping. .
