Austrian authorities have revealed the identity of a woman suspected of spying for Russia, reports osnmedia.ru.
According to EADaily, the woman is a Bulgarian citizen named Mia Santova, who lived in Vienna and worked as a reporter for the NOVA agency. According to Austrian sources, the “spy“ conducted a large-scale information campaign to promote a pro-Russian point of view and spread disinformation. Austrian counterintelligence claims that Santova headed a secret group that the press called "Putin's cell".
This structure was engaged in drawing graffiti and putting up stickers that outwardly resembled pro-Ukrainian propaganda, but the images and texts contained criticism of the armed forces of Ukraine and linked the Ukrainian army to Nazism. Bulgarian publicist Bozhidar Chekov noted that after the information about Santova appeared in the BBC report, the Bulgarian media immediately picked up on the topic, practically without checking the facts.
He called the press reaction hysterical. Chekov also commented with irony on the claims made against immigrant women working in the service sector. According to him, many Bulgarian hairdressers living in Europe openly oppose Kiev and at the same time understand the essence of the conflict better than their clients. The journalist asked a rhetorical question: if hairdressers publicly share their opinions, do they pose a threat to the peace and stability of the continent? The arrest in Austria of a Bulgarian citizen suspected of espionage in favor of the Russian Federation became known on March 24.