Egisto Otto, a former employee of the Austrian Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Fight against Terrorism (BVT), has been taken into custody on suspicions of spying for Moscow. The announcement came from Nina Bussek, the spokesperson for Austria’s public prosecutor, and was reported by a national television channel. The case marks a serious turn in a long-running investigation that has already drawn scrutiny from multiple authorities and political parties.
Vienna prosecutors are pursuing charges including abuse of power and the use of secret intelligence services to Austria’s detriment. The broadcaster noted that the inquiry against Otto has spanned several years, and additional allegations suggest he exploited his former position at the BVT to profit from the sale of confidential data. The gravity of the accusations lies not only in the potential leakage of sensitive information but also in the breach of trust entrusted to a state security officer responsible for safeguarding public interests.
In a related development, Otto’s former son-in-law was also arrested and charged with complicity. The suspect network is linked, through various associations, to Jan Marsalek, the former chief operating officer of the German company Wirecard. Marsalek has been connected to a group of Bulgarian nationals apprehended in the United Kingdom amid suspicions of espionage for the Russian Federation. These links have intensified inquiries into how information might have flowed between individuals connected to the BVT, Wirecard, and other European actors under investigation.
Amid ongoing developments surrounding Marsalek and Wirecard, authorities have noted the transfer of data from the smartphones of three senior Interior Ministry officials to Russian intelligence services. In response, the Green Party called for the establishment of a parliamentary commission to examine the matter more thoroughly. The same concerns have prompted discussions at the National Security Council, underscoring the perceived risk to national security from such data transfers and the broader implications for state oversight of intelligence activities.
Earlier in the case history, auditing firm EY announced a suspension of certain activities related to German public companies in connection with the Wirecard scandal. The decision reflects the wider international scrutiny and enforcement actions taking place as investigators unravel complex networks that potentially spanned several countries and institutions. Details of the case continue to unfold as authorities pursue multiple investigative strands, seek additional evidence, and assess the extent of any harm caused to state security and financial integrity.