Former intelligence official Egisto Ott has gone on trial in Vienna,accused of spying for Russia in what is being dubbed Austria’s biggest spy trial in years.
Egisto Ott, who told the court on Thursday that he was not guilty, is charged with having handed over information to Russian intelligence officers and to Jan Marsalek, the fugitive executive of collapsed German payments firm Wirecard.
The prosecutor told the court that Ott, 63, was “not romantic about Russia” but had acted out of financial motives and frustration with his career. “Simply put, this was betraying the country.” he said.
Ott’s lawyer, Anna Mair, rejected the allegations.
“Don’t you think that if he had really been spying
donald Trump Denies Financial Strain, Seeks Retirement
Donald Trump asserted on January 13, 2026, that media portrayals of him as “public enemy number one” are inaccurate and refuted claims of financial hardship. The former president stated, “I am almost 64 years old and want nothing more than to retire.”
Trump’s comments directly addressed the prosecutor’s assertions regarding his financial situation and potential motivations. He did not elaborate on specific financial details.
