Jan Marsalek claims involvement in operation preceding Austrian Chancellor's resignation

Claims of influence on political processes

Jan Marsalek, a former senior executive at German payment company Wirecard who is currently hiding in Russia, has publicly stated his participation in an operation that preceded the resignation of Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in 2021. According to British investigation data, Marsalek is linked to the FSB.

In correspondence with Orlin Rusev, who headed a Russian spy network, Marsalek claimed that his subordinates helped obtain the mobile phone of one of Kurz's associates. Information found on this device became key evidence during an anti-corruption investigation, after which the Chancellor left office.

Reaction of Austrian investigators

Austrian investigative bodies are examining the mentioned correspondence, viewing it as potential evidence of foreign intelligence interference in the country's internal political processes. Meanwhile, there are currently no independent confirmations of Marsalek's involvement in obtaining the phone.

Context of the Marsalek case

Marsalek fled to Russia after the collapse of Wirecard. In 2025, a verdict was handed down in the United Kingdom to members of a spy network that, on his instructions, monitored journalists and individuals who spoke out against Kremlin positions.