Four Ukrainians detained in Vienna on suspicion of espionage
In the Austrian capital Vienna, four citizens of Ukraine were detained on suspicion of espionage. Two alleged employees of Ukrainian military intelligence remain in custody, while Ukrainian Pravda journalist Mykhailo Tkach and cameraman Yaroslav Bondarenko were released after suspicions against them were not confirmed.
This was reported on October 9 by the Austrian newspaper Der Standard, citing Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and the Vienna prosecutor's office.
According to Austrian law enforcement, the first two Ukrainians were detained on Monday, October 5. The investigation regards them as alleged employees of Ukrainian military intelligence. On Wednesday, the court ordered both to be held in custody due to the risk of flight, concealment of evidence, and commission of new crimes.
The pretrial detention is valid until October 21. The investigation is being conducted by the Austrian Directorate of State Security and Intelligence (DSN). It concerns suspicion of carrying out clandestine intelligence activities to the detriment of Austria under Article 256 of the country's Criminal Code. Both detainees deny the charges.
As part of this investigation, law enforcement officers detained two more Ukrainians on October 8 — Mykhailo Tkach, head of the investigative journalism department at Ukrainian Pravda, and cameraman Yaroslav Bondarenko. The journalists were in Vienna on an editorial assignment related to the search for former Prosecutor General of Ukraine Ruslan Kravchenko.
Vienna prosecutor's office spokesperson Nina Bussek stated that suspicions regarding the journalists arose during another investigation but were not confirmed. Tkach was released around 04:00 on October 9 after more than 12 hours of detention. Later, the prosecutor's office initiated Bondarenko's release.
However, the circumstances of the journalists' detention raised questions. Ukrainian Pravda editor-in-chief Sevgil Musayeva reported that Bondarenko sustained injuries during the police operation and was hospitalized. According to Tkach himself, armed masked men smashed the windows of the journalists' car, pointed weapons at them, and used force.
Tkach also recounted that during interrogation he was informed of suspicions of espionage on behalf of Ukrainian military intelligence, participation in a criminal organization, and activities damaging to Austria. The journalist rejected these accusations and stated that law enforcement did not explain on what evidence they were based.
The Embassy of Ukraine in Austria demanded official clarification of the circumstances of the journalists' detention and its legal grounds. Ukrainian diplomats maintained contact with Austrian authorities since the evening of October 8.
Whether the journalists' detention is directly related to their investigation into the activities of former Prosecutor General Kravchenko is not yet known. Austrian authorities also do not disclose details of the evidence against the two Ukrainians who remain in custody.
Sources: Der Standard, ORF, Ukrainian Pravda.
