Austria is tightening its espionage law to counter Vienna's image as a "nest of Russian spies". Reuters.
The Austrian government has outlined plans to expand the legal definition of espionage and increase the maximum penalty for it, in a bid to eradicate Vienna's long-standing reputation as a spy hotbed after the expulsion of several Russian diplomats.
They worked in the Russian Embassy in Austria, as well as in missions to the United Nations and the OSCE.
"Vienna is repeatedly mentioned as the capital of espionage for historical reasons. I want to restore order and put an end to it, Austria will no longer turn a blind eye to what is happening," said Foreign Minister Beit Meinel-Reisinger as she presented the bill.
Currently, the maximum penalty for espionage is only 5 years in prison. The government plans to double it and expand the definition to include espionage against international organizations and the European Union.
In October, Austria expelled four Russian diplomats for actions inconsistent with their diplomatic status, a common term used to refer to espionage. This increases the number of Russian diplomats who have been forced to leave the country since 2020 to 18.