Austria expels Russian embassy worker over Austrian energy giant espionage scandal

Austria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expelled a Russian embassy employee after a spying scandal at Austrian oil, gas and chemicals group OMV.

As reported by APA, an Austrian national news agency, the Russian diplomat has been declared persona non grata. Austria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the man has already left the country.

Vienna has taken the step after Moscow refused to lift the employee's immunity, which would have allowed Austrian investigators to open a case.

The Russian official who has departed Austria has met several times with a dismissed OMV employee who was under surveillance by Austrian intelligence services on suspicion of spying for Moscow.

Austrian intelligence services suspect that the employee, who held a senior post at OMV, shared confidential information about his work with the Russian agent.

The employee was dismissed in mid-September after the case was reported by media. He currently remains at liberty.

OMV is Central Europe's largest oil and gas company, headquartered in Vienna.

Media reports previously indicated that Western countries are concerned about the activity of Russian spies in Austria, where they formally break no laws unless they act directly against Austria.