An old interrogation stirs up new controversy for the “U Committee” and in the light of the espionage affair. In pictures: Jan Marsalek, Johann Gudenus and their former intermediary.
The spy affair continues to spread. Just before the next day of questioning in the “Election Campaign Committee”, an old document comes to attention again. A 2020 witness interview by Florian Stermann, the former general secretary of the Austrian-Russian Friendship Association, reveals his close conversations with former FPÖ club president Johann Gudenus and fugitive spy Marsalek.
Secretary General as focal point
The chats show that Marsalek’s contacts were not limited to Egisto Ott. Stermann, who also invited Marsalek to then-Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka’s reception in Moscow, which has now been widely reported in the media, apparently had contacts deep within the FPÖ and is believed to be a nexus and intermediary between the spy, the FPÖ, the Ministry of the Interior and also the BVT have taken action. “It was clear that if Jan sent something, it always had to be forwarded to Gudenus,” can be read in the witness interview. It also concerns the awarding of a federal Trojan, but also the dismissal of the then BVT director Peter Gridling, who – as the news suggests – could even have been ordered indirectly by Marsalek, and the Russian known from Ibiza -scandal. Oligarch’s niece, who had apparently specifically “interrogated” Gudenus von Stermann.
The result of the question was negative, but as is known, it still gave Gudenus nothing to think about. For the opposition, the scandal is perfect and the motto for the interrogation in the U-Committee over the next two days is clear. “Either Kickl was involved in passing information to Russia, that would be a real scandal. Or he didn’t know about it because he was distracted by his squadron of horses and fancy coolies. In this case he is a bad choice for a Ministry of Security. We will demand full clarification in the U Committee,” said Yannick Shetty, pink faction leader in both committees.
The FPÖ states: “As far as Florian Stermann is concerned, he is a close confidante and former business partner of the former ÖVP Minister of the Interior Ernst Strasser, who was also the first president of the Austro-Russian Friendship Association, in which both Stermann and Marsalek were there also involved.” Gudenus told his lawyer that it was “an old story”.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
