FPÖ and Pilz in the sights

Espionage case harbors political explosives

Hans-Jörg Jenewein and Peter Pilz (archive photo)

(Bild: APA/Hans Punz)

The arrest of former constitutional protector Egisto Ott on suspicion of espionage is making waves and will keep both the government and parliament busy. The ÖVP sees this agent thriller as further proof of Russia's influence on the FPÖ. The case is politically explosive.

The People's Party is taking the case to the "Committee of Inquiry into Red-Blue Abuse". In an interview with the "Krone" newspaper, ÖVP General Christian Stocker calls for the committee to be extended and for FPÖ man and former National Councillor Hans-Jörg Jenewein to be questioned as a witness. Ott is suspected of having handed over the cell phone contents of top officials to Russian spies.

Hans-Jörg Jenewein (left) and Peter Pilz (archive photo)

(Bild: APA/Hans Punz)

Investigation committee to be expanded
There are indications that the alleged spy Ott had contacts with both Jenewein and former Green Peter Pilz, Stocker said. "Egisto Ott was an SPÖ official and cooperated with Jenewein, Kickl's right-hand man, on behalf of Russia." The ÖVP thus identifies entanglements with both the SPÖ and the FPÖ - a real feast for the Turks in the election campaign.

ÖVP General Stocker is alarmed.

(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

The FPÖ does not take these attacks lying down and fires back. The misconduct at the BVT had occurred under the ÖVP Interior Minister and not just during the time of Herbert Kickl. Ott had already been suspended in 2017 under Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka. The ÖVP and FPÖ have been arguing for years over the interpretation of the events in the former secret service. The People's Party accuses Kickl of having blown up the secret service as interior minister. He, in turn, likes to point out abuses in the office. As is so often the case, the truth probably lies in the middle.

Security committees will be convened
In any case, the case will also occupy the government. The Chancellery will convene the National Security Council. Topic of the meeting: "Clarification of the threat to the Republic through the instrumentalization of the FPÖ." Stocker will also convene the secret "permanent subcommittee of the Interior Committee", which he chairs.

National Security Council

• The National Security Council is the central advisory body of the federal government in matters of foreign, security and defense policy.
• It is made up of the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and the Ministers of Defense, the Interior, Foreign Affairs and Justice. All parliamentary parties send a representative, as does the Conference of Provincial Governors. The Chief of the General Staff and the Director General for Public Security are also present.
• The permanent subcommittee of the Committee on Internal Affairs is set up to review measures to protect constitutional institutions and their ability to act. It monitors the police intelligence services and obtains information from the Ministry of the Interior. The meetings are confidential.

Two arrests in Carinthia
The former constitutional protector Ott was arrested in Carinthia. The handcuffs also clicked for his ex-son-in-law, who is suspected of being a contributory offender. House searches were also carried out at the addresses of both of them. Both are presumed innocent.

Espionage for Russia is suspected
The public prosecutor's office has been investigating Ott since 2017. He most recently made the headlines in connection with the fugitive former Wirecard board member Jan Marsalek, whom he is alleged to have helped set up a spy cell for Russia within the BVT.

Ott - together with former BVT department head Martin Weiss - is said to have procured information for Marsalek and Russia, drawing on his previous activities as a constitutional protector and police attaché.

The information was allegedly about journalists living in Europe and a Kazakh opposition politician.