Ukrainians suspected of espionage released in Vienna against €3,000 bail
Two Ukrainians arrested in Vienna on 5 October, accused of espionage against Austria, have been released and are free again as of Monday.
Espionage suspects in Vienna released from custody after paying bail
Two men arrested in Vienna on 5 October, who are regarded as alleged members of the Ukrainian military intelligence service, are free again. According to the Kleine Zeitung, they were released at the beginning of the week from pre-trial detention following conditions and after depositing bail of €3,000 each.
The Vienna state prosecutor's office is investigating the two Ukrainians for espionage against Austria (Section 256 of the Criminal Code). The allegation: they are said to have surveilled a building in Vienna. If convicted, they face up to five years' imprisonment.
Originally, grounds for detention included risk of absconding, risk of collusion, and flight risk. The defence counsel for the accused filed a complaint against this. At a bail hearing brought forward to 5 November, the pre-trial detention was extended, but only on grounds of flight risk.
This circumstance alone opened the way to release: for offences with a maximum penalty of five years, a bail solution must be considered if flight risk alone remains as a ground for detention. The alleged intelligence service employees are unlikely to have had any particular difficulty raising the €3,000, according to court spokeswoman Christina Salzborn, speaking to the APA and the "Standard".
In addition to the bail, the men were imposed further conditions: they must lodge a valid address in Vienna or Austria, are prohibited from leaving the country, must not obstruct the ongoing investigation, and must not approach the surveilled object until further notice.
The state prosecutor's office is not satisfied with the release and filed a complaint — but without suspensory effect. The two men, who are presumed innocent, were able to leave the Josefstadt prison on Monday.
Source: Kleine Zeitung