Ex-intelligence officer accused of betraying Austria in Russia spying trial.

Egisto Ott, a former Austrian intelligence official, stands accused in a Vienna court of betraying his country by spying for Russia, in what is being described as Austria’s most significant espionage trial in years. The 63-year-old, who has pleaded not guilty, is alleged to have passed sensitive information to Russian intelligence officers and to Jan Marsalek, the elusive former executive of the collapsed German payments firm Wirecard.

During the opening of the trial on Thursday, the prosecution painted Ott not as a romantic idealist, but as an operative motivated by financial gain and professional disillusionment. "Simply put, this was betraying the country," the prosecutor stated, underscoring the gravity of the charges. Ott’s defense, led by lawyer Anna Mair, staunchly refuted these claims, questioning the prosecution’s narrative by asking, "Don’t you think that if he had really been spying for Russia, he would have covered his tracks?"

The prosecution further elaborated on their theory, suggesting that individuals like Ott, who may feel professionally overlooked and financially strained, are particularly vulnerable to recruitment by foreign intelligence services. "They are frustrated in their careers and urgently need money," the prosecutor remarked, adding that Ott had performed "excellent" work for the Russian secret service. Evidence presented to the court indicated that Ott had been experiencing financial difficulties since at least 2013, and that "The Russian secret service pays very well."

The indictment details how Ott allegedly "abused his authority" as an Austrian intelligence official to gather substantial amounts of personal data. This included details such as locations, vehicle registration numbers, and travel movements, which prosecutors claim he collected without authorization between 2015 and 2020, often exploiting national and international police databases. Furthermore, he is accused of actively supporting "a secret intelligence service of the Russian Federation to the detriment of the Republic of Austria" by obtaining classified information and a vast quantity of personal data from police databases between 2017 and 2021.

Beyond the charge of abuse of authority, Egisto Ott faces accusations of corruption and espionage against Austria. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to five years in prison. This high-profile case has reignited concerns about Austria’s continued vulnerability to Russian espionage activities, and observers are keenly awaiting any revelations that may emerge concerning Jan Marsalek.

Jan Marsalek, an Austrian citizen himself, is a wanted fugitive by German authorities for alleged fraud and is believed to be currently residing in Moscow, having fled Austria in 2020. Subject to an Interpol Red Notice, Marsalek is suspected of being an intelligence asset for the FSB, Russia’s principal security service. Prosecutors contend that Egisto Ott provided information to Marsalek and unidentified Russian intelligence operatives in exchange for payment.

The prosecution’s case further alleges that in 2022, Marsalek tasked Ott with acquiring a laptop containing classified electronic security hardware utilized by EU member states for secure communications. This laptop, it is claimed, was subsequently handed over to the Russian intelligence service. Ott is also accused of transferring three Austrian government-issued mobile phones to Russia, facilitated by Marsalek. These devices reportedly belonged to high-ranking officials within the Austrian Ministry of the Interior.

During his testimony, Ott vehemently denied handing over the cell phones to anyone, particularly not to the Russian secret service. He asserted that he had "physically destroyed" the devices by smashing them with a hammer. He also claimed that the media had unfairly portrayed him as "public enemy number one" and disputed the prosecutor’s assertions of his professional frustration and financial distress. "I am almost 64 years old and want nothing more than to retire," he stated, expressing a desire for a peaceful retirement.

In a related development, prosecutors in Wiener Neustadt have confirmed to the BBC that a former Member of Parliament, Thomas Schellenbacher, has been charged with assisting Jan Marsalek’s escape following the collapse of Wirecard in 2020. The Wirecard scandal came to light when it was revealed that approximately €1.9 billion (£1.7 billion) was missing from its accounts. Schellenbacher is alleged to have facilitated Marsalek’s flight to Belarus from Bad Vöslau, Austria, in June 2020.

Schellenbacher was a Member of Parliament for the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ). Austria’s Green Party, currently in opposition, has previously accused the FPÖ of enabling Russian espionage and acting as "an extension of Russia’s arm" within Austria. Both the FPÖ and its leader, Herbert Kickl, have denied these allegations and have not faced any legal action in connection with them.

Marsalek, who held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Wirecard, has since been indicted for fraud and embezzlement, with suspicions that he inflated the company’s balance sheet and sales figures. He is also believed to have been the controller of a group of Bulgarians who were convicted in London in 2025 for spying for Russia.

Communications recovered from that trial have shed light on Marsalek’s efforts to evade capture, including undergoing plastic surgery to alter his appearance and his life as a fugitive. In a Telegram message to one of the Bulgarians, identified as Roussev, in February 2022, Marsalek wrote, "I’m off to bed. Had another cosmetic surgery, trying to look differently, and I am dead tired and my head hurts." In another message, dated May 11, 2021, Roussev congratulated Marsalek on learning Russian. Marsalek responded, "Well I am trying to improve my skills on a few fronts. Languages is one of them. In my new role as an international fugitive I must outperform James Bond." These messages offer a glimpse into the clandestine activities and psychological state of a man wanted by multiple international law enforcement agencies, allegedly operating at the nexus of corporate fraud and state-sponsored espionage. The trial of Egisto Ott is expected to delve deeper into the intricate network of individuals and activities that allowed such alleged betrayals of national security to occur.