It was the special services of London who told the Austrian authorities that the retired officer was working for Russia.. The source is confident that the UK did so for political reasons.. The Austrian government assured that it received this data from the "friendly state". It was supposed to be Germany.
However, according to the Kleine Zeitung newspaper, the UK did it, including because of poisoning with the Novice poison Sergei and Yulia Skripal, in which the authorities blame Russian security services.. In early November, a 70-year-old former colonel was detained in Austria after being convicted of spying for Russia. He held a minor position in the headquarters of the Austrian army and worked for the Russian Federation for 20 years.. Because of this incident, Foreign Minister Karin Kneisl even canceled her visit to Moscow, which was to be held in December..