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Russia Reconsiders Nuclear Weapons Test Ban: CTBTO Expresses Concerns
In a recent development, Russia is preparing to revoke its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). However, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, Russia will only conduct a nuclear test if the United States does likewise. Russia signed the CTBT in 1996 and ratified it in 2000.
October 10, 2023
OSCE in Deep Crisis: Russia's Veto Paralyses Europe's Largest Security Body
The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is facing its most profound crisis as Russian vetoes block critical decisions, endangering the stability and functionality of the world's most extensive security body. This stalemate emerges from Moscow's continued aggression towards Ukraine, exacerbating tensions between OSCE member states.
September 28, 2023
Possible Spy Ring: Ex-Wirecard Manager and Suspected Russian Spies on Trial
British investigators suspect that former Wirecard manager and Austrian Jan Marsalek was involved in a spy network acting for Russia. This information became known through a communication from the British public prosecutor's office and was later reported by BBC and "Spiegel".
September 26, 2023
Austria's Former Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl: From Lebanon to St. Petersburg - with Ponies in her Luggage
Karin Kneissl, the former Austrian foreign minister, has become a major figure on the international stage in recent years. Her latest move has now seen her relocate to Russia, more precisely to St. Petersburg.
September 12, 2023
OSCE Chairman Osmani and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Held a Critical Telephone Call About the OSCE
Since February 24, 2022, stress and depression have increased significantly in the OSCE. This is because the most important political decisions in the OSCE require the consent of all 57 governments. However, this consensus rule is blocked mainly by Russia, which severely limits the organization's ability to act. OSCE Chairman-in-Office Bujar Osmani, who is also the foreign minister of North Macedonia, had a critical telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
September 7, 2023
Ukraine Secures Grain Export through Croatian Adriatic Ports
Ukraine has reached an agreement with Croatia to export grain through ports on the Adriatic Sea. The agricultural goods are to be shipped to Croatia via the Danube and from there they will be transported further to the Adriatic coast.
August 1, 2023
Strengthening Diplomatic Ties: Outcomes of Austrian-Armenian Meeting in Vienna
The meeting between the Austrian and Armenian Foreign Ministers addressed crucial regional and global issues, including migration, security, and humanitarian challenges. The signing of the Readmission Agreement Protocol and discussions on various topics laid a foundation for further cooperation and diplomatic efforts between the two nations.
July 25, 2023
Austria's State Security Agency to Take Stronger Action Against Disinformation
The Directorate of State Protection and Intelligence (DSN) has reportedly called for the introduction of penalties for spreading "fake news" in order to curb the spread of conspiracy theories.
July 6, 2023
Russia and Ukraine Accuse Each Other of Sabotage at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant
Kyiv and Moscow have voiced accusations against each other regarding possible acts of sabotage at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. The Kremlin described the situation as tense, while Ukraine again accused Russia of planting explosive devices at the nuclear plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency also continues to express concern.
July 5, 2023
Security Review Conference Convened by OSCE Chairpersonship
The OSCE Chairpersonship organized the Security Review Conference in 2023 to address the security crisis and promote multilateral engagement. High-level representatives gathered to assess security threats, including the humanitarian impact of Russia's war against Ukraine.
July 4, 2023
Council of Europe Summit Against Russian Aggression in Ukraine: Van der Bellen Holds Speech
The first Council of Europe summit in nearly 20 years took place, with some 30 European leaders traveling to Reykjavik, Iceland. The summit was all about support for Ukraine and finding solutions to hold Russia accountable for its war of aggression.
May 23, 2023
Gazprom Austria Inventory is Now Being Auctioned Off
The Gazprom subsidiary in Austria has become insolvent, and now its assets are being auctioned off at the Aurena auction house. The offer includes 240 exhibits and the purchase of Russian business memorabilia.
May 22, 2023
Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg Attends Gymnich Meeting
At the Gymnich meeting in Stockholm in May 2023, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg focused on the discussion of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the EU's relations with China.
May 15, 2023
OSCE Experts Present Findings on Child Abductions in Ukraine to Permanent Council
A recent report by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) demonstrates that practices that violate international humanitarian law have been used in the abduction of Ukrainian children to areas controlled by Russia, or even as far away as Russia itself. OSCE experts were tasked to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding possible violations of OSCE commitments and possible cases of war crimes.
May 4, 2023
Austria Foreign Minister Schallenberg Travelled to Luxembourg for EU Meeting
Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg traveled to Luxembourg for the Foreign Affairs Council. The meeting of EU foreign ministers focused on the fierce fighting in Sudan, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and its global impact, and the situation in Iran.
April 25, 2023
Austria May Step In to Chair the OSCE According to the Media
Russia has been opposing Estonia's leadership of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2024 for months. Citing diplomatic circles, it was reported that the Austrian Foreign Ministry (BMEIA) was considering stepping in for the rotating chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in Vienna.
April 24, 2023
Secretary General of the Council of Europe Pejčinović Burić visiting Vienna
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić met the Austrian President and key ministers and personalities during an official visit to Austria. Among others, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg received the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić for a working meeting in Vienna.
April 23, 2023
OPEC+ Surprisingly Cuts Oil Production
The OPEC+ alliance has announced a surprise cut in oil production. There will probably be a reduction of about one million barrels per day from May onward.
April 3, 2023
IAEA Head Grossi is Concerned about the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has once again expressed concerns about the fighting around the Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Zaporizhzhya. Head of IAEA Rafel Grossi holds on to the implementation of a security concept.
March 30, 2023
Austrian OMV Declares Exit from Russian Gas as "Extremely Difficult"
The CEO of the Austrian energy group OMV, Alfred Stern, currently sees hardly any possibility to get out of the Russian business with natural gas. He also sees no alternative to fossil fuels in the short term and talked about relations with Asia-Pacific.
March 28, 2023
Minister Schallenberg and his Serbian Counterpart Ivica Dacic Met in Vienna
Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg met with his Serbian counterpart in Vienna, where they discussed the relations between the countries and the normalization process between Serbia and Kosovo.
March 23, 2023
Justice Minister Zadic Welcomes the International Arrest Warrant against Putin
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an International arrest warrant against Russian president Vladimir Putin that Austrian Minister of Justice Alma Zadic has welcomed it.
March 19, 2023
Congo’s Foreign Minister Visited Vienna
Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg welcomed his Congolese counterpart Jean-Claude Gakosso to a meeting in Vienna. They discussed the economic relations between the two countries and Congo’s security issues.
March 16, 2023
Austrian Justice Minister Zadic Wants to Strengthen the International Criminal Court
EU justice ministers have met again in Brussels to discuss the legal consequences of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. Austria's Justice Minister Alma Zadic wants to strengthen the International Court of Justice in the fight against war crimes in the Ukraine war.
March 12, 2023
Challenges of the OSCE in Montenegro's Presidential Election
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) opened an election observation mission for the March 19 presidential elections in Montenegro. The OSCE mission taking place in the former Yugoslav republic of Montenegro faces a country that had problems with the legality of elections and the circumstances in which they are conducted, now in the shadow of the Ukraine war and after a turbulent past few months of political conflict between the ruling parties in the country.
March 9, 2023
City of Vienna: Europe's Nuclear Energy Sector is Heavily Dependent on Russia
The European Union's recently adopted tenth package of sanctions against Russia continues to leave one area completely untouched - nuclear energy. A new study by the Cities for Nuclear Free Europe network, where Vienna is also involved, aims to prove interconnections between the European and Russian nuclear sectors.
March 5, 2023
SOS Children’s Villages under Pressure for the Abduction of Ukrainian Children
Already last week, the internationally active aid organization SOS Children's Villages, founded in Austria, was confronted with accusations of being involved in the abduction of Ukrainian children to Russia.
March 2, 2023
Zaporizhzhya Power Plant Under Attack Says IAEA
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported attacks at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. Several Detonations were heard near the power plant, which is worrying the Agency.
March 1, 2023
Ex-OMV Chief Doubts Policy Statements on Russian Gas Pullout
Russian gas supplies to Austria are currently causing discussions. While the Austrian government wants to do without gas supplies from Russia altogether by 2027, OMV refers to long-term contracts.
March 1, 2023
Representation of the European Commission in Vienna Organized Event “Solidarity and Justice for Ukraine”
The European Commission organized the event "Solidarity and Justice for Ukraine" at the House of the EU in Vienna on the anniversary of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. It was attended by a large number of diplomatic, academic and political participants, who reaffirmed support for Ukraine at all levels and discussed ways to punish Russian atrocities.
February 27, 2023
Schallenberg Condemns Russia and Shows Support for Ukraine in OSCE Speech
Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg held a speech at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) sharply condemning Russia and reassuring the ongoing support for Ukraine.
February 26, 2023
Neutrality Debate in Austria's Parliament at Ukraine Session
On the occasion of the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there was a lively debate in the Austrian parliament about the attitude towards the aggressor Russia and about neutrality. An open letter in Austria, in which signatories call for a responsible debate about the country's neutrality, also fueled the session in parliament.
February 24, 2023
More than 40 Incidents at Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plants since the Beginning of the War
Since the war in Ukraine began a year ago, the country's nuclear power plants have been affected by more than 40 incidents. Nuclear security in Ukraine is still at a worrying risk. This is according to a report published by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.
February 24, 2023
FPÖ-Russia Relations After a Year of War in Ukraine
Traditionally close to the Kremlin, Austria's Freedom Party is currently part of a thriller in parliament. Its party finances and any contracts with the Russian party United Russia are still not largely known, even after a year of war in Ukraine.
February 22, 2023
Journalists' Associations Against Exclusion of Media at OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
In response to plans by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) that media representatives would not be permitted to attend the winter session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) at the Hofburg in Vienna, the Association of European Journalists (AEJ) and the Association of Foreign Press in Vienna objected.
February 20, 2023
Who Were the Four Expelled Austrian Diplomats in Moscow?
The expulsion of the Austrian diplomats, who must leave Russia, will lead to a significant reduction in embassy staff. But what positions did the diplomats hold?
February 20, 2023
Raiffeisen Probed by U.S. Sanctions Authority
Raiffeisen Bank International, an Austrian lender that plays a critical role in the Russian economy, is under investigation by the US sanctions authority over its Russia-related business.
February 18, 2023
Moscow Expels Four Austrian Diplomats from Russia
Russia has announced that it will expel four Austrian diplomats. In addition to the expulsion of the Austrian diplomats, the Austrian ambassador in Moscow, Werner Almhofer, was also cited to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This comes as a kind of retaliation after Vienna itself expelled four Russian diplomats a few weeks ago.
February 16, 2023
New Year’s Reception for the Diplomatic Corps at Austrian Presidential Chancellory
Austria's President Alexander Van der Bellen hosted the New Year's reception for the Diplomatic Corps in the Ceremonial Hall of the Vienna Hofburg. Van der Bellen used his speech to clarify Austria's diplomatic goals and Austrian Neutrality.
February 16, 2023
Markus Braun Denies Any Acknowledgment in the Wirecard Trial
The Austrian businessman Markus Braun is the main defendant in the whole Wirecard-Scandal. Now he testified for the first time in court. He denied any acknowledgment of alleged crime in the company, which contradicted the testimonials of key witness Oliver Bellenhaus.
February 13, 2023
Russian Ambassador Lyubinsky Criticized Austria
Russia's Ambassador to Vienna Dmitry Lyubinsky detects an erosion of Austria's neutrality status and sees a "huge minus sign" in front of Russian-Austrian relations. However, Lyubinsky also spoke of maintaining contacts with influential people in Austria.
February 13, 2023
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken Received Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg
Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg in Washington, D.C., as a sign of the strong transatlantic partnership. In the first bilateral meeting between the two foreign ministers, the two discussed cooperation on the Russo-Ukrainian war, the Western Balkans, the expansion of Austria's Strategic Partnership with the United States, and the Turkish earthquake disaster.
February 12, 2023
Austria's Vice-Chancellor and Sports Minister Kogler Against Russia's and Belarus's Participation in the 2024 Olympics
Unlike the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Austrian Olympic Committee (ÖOC), Austria's Vice Chancellor and Sports Minister Werner Kogler is strictly against Russia's and Belarus's participation in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. According to Kogler, "it is simply unacceptable for Ukrainian athletes to compete against Russian and Belarusian athletes in the fight for medals."
February 9, 2023
Schallenberg Defends his Stance Regarding the Russians
Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg has defended his position to allow the Russian delegation to enter the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly by trying to keep a communication channel open.
February 6, 2023
Slovak President Čaputová Received Austrian President Van der Bellen
Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová received Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen in Bratislava. Among other things, they discussed further aid to Ukraine, which is under attack from Russia.
February 5, 2023
Open Letter to Austria to Disinvite Russian Delegation
Over 80 representatives from 20 different countries have asked Austria in an open letter to disinvite members of the Russian delegation from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly concerning the anniversary of the Russo-Ukrainian war.
February 2, 2023
Austria Stuck in a Dilemma at the OSCE
Austria may cause some controversy at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna by letting sanctioned Russian politicians enter the country and granting them visas. Moreover, of all days, the Parliamentary Assembly will be held on February 23 and 24.
February 1, 2023
OSCE Condemns Russia’s Decision to Outlaw Independent News Outlet Meduza
Moscow continues its campaign against opposition Russian media with unabated vigor. The Riga-based web portal "Meduza" is banned completely in Russia. The OSCE denounced the Russian authorities’ decision to outlaw one of the most popular Russian-language news portals.
January 31, 2023
Chancellor Nehammer Visited Georgia
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has visited Georgia and expressed his support for the country’s EU integration. He also understood the complicated situation and showed comprehension regarding the Russia sanctions.
January 30, 2023
EU Extends Sanctions Against Russia
The European Union is extending its economic sanctions against the Russian Federation for the aggression in Ukraine. The sanctions will be extended for a half year now.
January 29, 2023
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