Austria says it has uncovered a Russian-steered campaign to spread disinformation about Ukraine
Austria's domestic intelligence agency unearthed evidence of the operation as it analyzed devices found in a search of the woman's home, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. It said the investigation showed that a few weeks after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a cell working for Russian intelligence was set up and planned a large-scale disinformation campaign in German-speaking countries, particularly Austria.
The group was active online but also used stickers and graffiti with content such as far-right symbols and nationalist statements meant to look like pro-Ukrainian activists were responsible for them, according to the Interior Ministry.
The Bulgarian suspect, whose name wasn't released, is believed to have played a significant role in the effort and acted as an intelligence contact, the ministry said, adding that she has admitted working for the cell, particularly in 2022.
A year ago, Austria's biggest espionage scandal in decades erupted with the arrest of a former Austrian intelligence officer, who was accused among other things of handing over cellphone data of former high-ranking Austrian officials to Russian intelligence and helping plot a burglary at a prominent journalist's apartment.
The ex-officer, who was later released from custody, is suspected of having provided sensitive information to Jan Marsalek, a fugitive fellow Austrian wanted on suspicion of fraud since the collapse in 2020 of German payment company Wirecard, where he was the chief operating officer. The arrest warrant said chat messages provided by British authorities link Marsalek directly to Russia's FSB intelligence agency.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
26 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Judge dismisses 2 counts against US Rep. Cuellar of Texas, moves bribery trial to next year
HOUSTON (AP) — A judge on Thursday granted a request by federal prosecutors to dismiss two of the 14 counts against U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife, as part of a federal bribery and conspiracy indictment. The judge also ordered that their trial, which had been set for September, be rescheduled for next year. Prosecutors with the U.S. Justice Department had asked U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal to dismiss two counts that Cuellar and his wife had each faced related to violating the prohibition on public officials acting as agents of a foreign principal. Federal authorities have charged Cuellar, 69, and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, with accepting thousands of dollars in exchange for the congressman advancing the interests of an Azerbaijan-controlled energy company and a bank in Mexico. Cuellar has said he and his wife are innocent. Prosecutors said they were dismissing the two counts following a February memorandum from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi that shifted the focus of charges filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The law is aimed at ensuring transparency about lobbying efforts done in the U.S. at the direction of foreign governments or principals. Bondi's memorandum said that such charges 'shall be limited to instances of alleged conduct similar to more traditional espionage by foreign government actors.' During a Zoom court hearing, Rosenthal said she was set to file an order granting the prosecution's motion to dismiss the two counts. Cuellar and his wife each still face 12 charges, including conspiracy, bribery and money laundering. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano:
New York Post
26 minutes ago
- New York Post
India shops the globe for oil ahead of Trump-Putin summit: report
Indian refiners, the top importers of Russian crude oil, are searching for alternative suppliers ahead of Friday's summit between President Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. India, the world's third-largest oil consumer, is looking to switch up its procurement process after Trump imposed a total 50% tariff rate on New Delhi, accusing the country of effectively fueling Russia's war machine. Oil importers are now hedging their bets that even harsher punishments are in store for anyone who purchases petroleum from Moscow once Trump meets with Putin, with India's state processor buying large bulks of non-Russian crude this week to prepare for the worst, Bloomberg reported. 4 Indian state-refiners, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are shopping around the world for crude oil. Ton Molina/NurPhoto/Shutterstock 4 State refiners are looking to alternatives from Russia, which accounts for about $130 billion on India's oil imports. REUTERS Both Indian Oil Corp. and Bharat Petroleum Corp. have purchased cargo from all over the world, including the US, Brazil and the Middle East. Saudi Arabia remains one of the top exporters of oil to India, with Riyadh sending about 22.5 million barrels of crude that are expected to arrive in September, according to Bloomberg. The full 50% tariff rate imposed by Trump is due to take effect Aug. 27, supplanting the 25% rate currently in effect. The race to stock up comes as Indian Oil, the country's top refiner, missed its quarterly profit estimates on Thursday, reporting revenue about $200 million below expectations. 4 Trump has threatened to double the tariff rate on India to 50% over New Delhi's purchase of Russian crude oil. via REUTERS 4 Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to meet with Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday. VYACHESLAV PROKOFYEV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA/Shutterstock On average, India imported about $130 billion in Russian oil per year since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022, according to an analysis from the New York Times. 'Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,' India's foreign ministry said in a statement responding to Trump's Aug. 6 tariff announcement. Officials in India have accused the US of importing uranium and fertilizers from Russia despite ongoing sanctions. The recent rupture with Trump has also led India to look to mend its relations with China and discuss resuming cross-border trade of domestic goods after more than five years, according to Bloomberg. With Post wires
Axios
26 minutes ago
- Axios
Trump says Social Security is stronger, but signs of trouble at the agency mount
President Trump is expected to sign a proclamation today celebrating the 90th anniversary of Social Security and promoting the program's improvements under his leadership, a White House official confirms to Axios. Why it matters: Reports from inside the agency tell a different story; Social Security advocates are questioning whether the administration may be weighing changes to the popular program that would be harmful to its long-term success. Social Security "looks more threatened than ever," is how the AP puts it. Tens of millions of Americans rely on Social Security benefits to make ends meet, and polling suggests it is the most popular government policy. Where it stands: The Social Security Administration, the agency that oversees the program, lost thousands of employees this year, including senior executives with deep understanding of how the program works. The field offices, Social Security's "front door," where the public goes for help, signing up for benefits, getting cards, etc., are down about 20% of staff this year, taking into account folks who've been transferred to work phone lines, per an Axios tally. Workers there are buckling under the strain of understaffing, they told Axios. The administration has a much more upbeat view. "President Donald J. Trump repeatedly promised to preserve and protect Social Security for every eligible American — and he has unquestionably delivered," the White House said in a press release Thursday. "By massively improving the customer service experience through technological improvements, preventing illegal aliens from accessing benefits, and delivering no taxes on Social Security through the One Big Beautiful Bill – President Trump has Made Social Security Great Again," White House spokeswoman Liz Huston said in a statement. Zoom in: While the White House and president have make supportive statements, there's been a drip of comments from administration officials and nominees suggesting that Social Security should be privatized and calling it a Ponzi scheme — a longstanding way conservatives have criticized the program. Meanwhile: The tax cut for seniors in the "big, beautiful bill" will likely speed up the date when the program's trust funds will be depleted, according to the agency's actuary. That follows bipartisan legislation last year that also sped up that process. The depletion in the Social Security trust funds would lead to a cut in benefits — but not the end of the program. The other side: Social Security Administration commissioner Frank Bisignano has been touting improvements to customer service. "Since taking office, I have focused on modernizing operations; investing in our workforce; eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse; and improving how we serve the public, whether online, over the phone, or in person," he wrote in a column for Fox News on Thursday. Bisignano has removed many of the stats that the agency used to display on its website to track customer service, per The Washington Post. But according to data the agency has released this year, wait times for those trying to reach Social Security by phone have declined this year. Critics say that's a misleading measure — since improvements to how the phone lines work were put in place by the prior administration.
