Austrian State Protection and Intelligence Directorate Discovers Suspected Russian Disinformation Campaign
The Austrian State Protection and Intelligence Directorate (DSN) has uncovered a suspected Russian disinformation campaign, with a Bulgarian national at the center of the investigation.
The individual, a Bulgarian citizen, is believed to have spied for Russian intelligence and disseminated false information, allegedly in the service of Russian agencies, particularly in 2022. The credibility of these claims, however, remains uncertain.
The disinformation campaign, which began shortly after the start of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, aimed to influence public opinion in Austria and other German-speaking countries, contrary to established media reporting. Online and offline content, including social media posts, stickers and graffiti, were spread, allegedly to create the impression that they came from pro-Ukrainian groups.
While it is unclear whether the Kremlin is behind the operation or if other actors are involved, the DSN considers the activities as part of hybrid warfare.
“The dissemination of false narratives, fake news and manipulative content undermines trust in our institutions and endangers social cohesion” warned Austrian State Secretary Jörg Leichtfried.
He sees a risk for democratic elections and the political order, emphasizing the need for citizens to form their own opinions.
“We Austrians would rather form our opinions ourselves” Leichtfried said, also calling for a strengthening of the DSN.
The suspect is believed to have acted as a connection to Russian intelligence and coordinated content, which was then forwarded to contacts in Russia and the UK. Investigators are also looking into possible connections to former Wirecard manager Jan Marsalek, who is allegedly in Russia and is believed to have built a spy network in Europe.
Similar cases, such as the conviction of Bulgarian citizens in London for espionage, have fueled speculation about a larger network. However, concrete evidence for such connections is lacking so far.
The DSN emphasizes the threat and continues to investigate to identify further participants. Nevertheless, caution is advised, as the charges are serious and the evidence remains unclear. Until a judicial clarification, the presumption of innocence applies to the accused and the question of whether Russia was indeed behind the campaign.