Former intelligence official Egisto Ott went on trial in Vienna on Thursday, accused of spying for Russia in what has been described as Austria's biggest spy trial in years. Ott, 63, is charged with abusing his authority as an Austrian intelligence official by collecting large amounts of personal data and handing over information to Russian intelligence officers and to Jan Marsalek, the fugitive executive of collapsed German payments firm Wirecard, according to prosecutors in Vienna. Ott denies the charges.

The case has revived fears that Austria remains a hotbed of Russian espionage activity, and observers are closely watching for details that could emerge about Marsalek. Marsalek, who is also an Austrian citizen, is wanted by German police for alleged fraud and is currently believed to be in Moscow, having fled via Austria in 2020. He is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice and is alleged to be an intelligence asset for the FSB, Russia's secretive security service.

Marsalek's alleged ties to Russian intelligence and his role in the Wirecard scandal have added another layer of complexity to the trial. Wirecard, once a rising star in the German fintech industry, collapsed in 2020 after admitting that €1.9 billion was missing from its accounts. Marsalek, who was Wirecard's chief operating officer, disappeared shortly after the scandal broke.

The trial is expected to shed light on the extent of Russian espionage activities in Austria and the potential involvement of other individuals. The outcome of the trial could have significant implications for Austria's relationship with Russia and its standing within the European Union.