Austrian foreign minister says espionage law hinges on intelligence services amid Russian diplomat expulsions

Austria's foreign minister stated that the upcoming espionage law will be approved only after the intelligence services give their assessment, rejecting claims that the government alone can finalize it. Coalition member Beate Meinl-Reisinger, who also heads the NEOS party, has worked to reduce the recent wave of Russian spying incidents in the country. The minister highlighted the May expulsion of three Russian diplomats, condemning their alleged intelligence work against Austria and several international organizations headquartered in Vienna, such as the United Nations, the OSCE, OPEC, the newly opened NATO office, and the IAEA. The statement underscores the tension between diplomatic relations and security concerns in the capital.