The Austrian prosecutor's office has opened a criminal investigation against diplomat Johannes Peterlik for disclosing confidential information related to the Novichok agent and the poisoning of Sergei Skripal.

The Austrian prosecutor's office has launched criminal proceedings against diplomat Johannes Peterlik, suspected of disclosing confidential documents related to the neurotoxic agent Novichok and the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal. He is accused of abuse of power and breach of official secrecy, being suspected of having requested a classified report in 2018 that contained the formula for the Novichok agent.

At that time, Peterlik was the Secretary General of the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is also accused of having shown a file to a former Austrian secret agent, Egisto Ott, suspected of espionage in favor of Russia. If found guilty, Peterlik risks up to five years in prison. The investigation was initially linked to the Wirecard scandal, and Austria has been criticized for its reputation as a nest of Russian spies.