Vienna court extends detention of two Ukrainians in espionage case

Vienna Regional Court has extended the pre-trial detention of two Ukrainians suspected of espionage until November 20, ORF reported. The court cited risks that the men could flee, interfere with the investigation or commit further offences.

The investigation into the two men, who are suspected of belonging to Ukrainian military intelligence, is being handled by Austria’s Directorate for State Security and Intelligence. Prosecutors suspect them of operating a secret intelligence service to Austria’s detriment, an offence under Section 256 of the Criminal Code.

The case is also linked to the temporary detention of two Ukrainian journalists, who remain under investigation. The arrests of the two alleged intelligence agents were announced by Interior Minister Gerhard Karner after investigative journalist Mykhailo Tkach and his cameraman, Yaroslav Bondarenko, were temporarily detained on October 9.

According to Vienna prosecutors, witnesses said the two men had been monitoring an “object”. The witnesses also said Bondarenko had been watched in the same way. This led prosecutors to order Bondarenko’s arrest, approved by the court, by masked police officers at Margaretengürtel. Tkach, who was in a car with the cameraman, was also arrested.

Prosecutors could not substantiate espionage suspicions against the two journalists from Ukrainska Pravda, and both were released. However, they remain suspects in an ongoing investigation. A prosecution spokeswoman said on Monday that the inquiry was not yet complete. Tkach, who has since returned to Ukraine, confirmed this to the Austrian Press Agency on Tuesday evening.