The Kremlin on Austria’s Government Scandal: Don’t Look at Us
Don’t Look at Us Over Austrian Government Scandal, Kremlin Says
(Bloomberg) -- The Kremlin says it knows one thing about the scandal that brought down Austria’s top nationalist politician over a leaked video featuring an alleged Russian oligarch’s niece. That it’s got nothing to do with the Russian state.
“I can’t assess the appearance of this video because it doesn’t apply to either the Russian Federation or the president or the government,” President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters on a conference call Monday. “We don’t know for sure who this woman is, whether she is Russian, whether she is a Russian national. Therefore, this story doesn’t and can’t have anything to do with us.”
Russia rejected any ties to the downfall of Austrian Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache following the emergence of the seven-hour recording of him at a Spanish villa in 2017. In the video, Strache suggested he’d trade government contracts for campaign funds for his nationalist Freedom Party amid an alcohol-fueled night of “macho” political boasting to the mystery woman.
Russia’s been accused of carrying out influence operations and election meddling, often via cyber attacks and social media campaigns, to sway decisions in the U.S. and across Europe including in France, Spain, Germany and the U.K. The Kremlin denies involvement. It’s also forged links with populist parties in countries like Italy, Austria and France that are pushing for a breakthrough at this week’s European parliament elections.
The scandal erupted days after Putin met Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl in Russia’s Sochi last week. Putin, who was a guest at Kneissl’s wedding in Austria last August, called the talks with Bellen “friendly and businesslike” at a joint news conference.
To contact the reporter on this story: Ilya Arkhipov in Moscow at iarkhipov@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Gregory L. White at gwhite64@bloomberg.net, Tony Halpin, Torrey Clark
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