Austria is considering revoking the citizenship of Jan Marsalek, the fugitive former Wirecard executive, due to alleged espionage activities and ties to Russian forces.

An international investigative team, including journalists from Spiegel, ZDF, Austrian Standard, PBS, and The Insider, uncovered that Marsalek is currently residing in Moscow and working for the Russian secret service.

Marsalek is not reachable and does not have a known lawyer in Austria; a lawyer who previously represented him in Germany has not responded to requests.

Marsalek, 45, has been on the run since 2020 when Wirecard collapsed with nearly $4 billion owed to creditors, making him a key suspect in Germany's largest post-war fraud.

The Wirecard scandal involved years of fake bookkeeping to manipulate the company's finances, resulting in a nearly €1.9 billion shortfall and extensive criminal investigations.

Since the collapse, Marsalek has been living in hiding, reportedly using false passports and changing identities, and has been linked to Russian intelligence activities since March 2024.

Marsalek has been living in hiding for five years, frequently changing identities and using false passports to evade authorities.

This case highlights significant issues related to cross-border financial crime, espionage, and vulnerabilities within European systems to corruption and covert operations.

German and European authorities face challenges in tracking Marsalek due to limited legal tools, lack of cooperation from Russian authorities, and his sophisticated use of encrypted communication.

Investigative journalist Jörg Diehl recounts the process of uncovering Marsalek's identity, including a humorous anecdote involving a Sachertorte.

Following the Wirecard collapse, Marsalek fled by private jet to Russia, where he has since remained in hiding.

Marsalek's life on the run involves frequent visits to FSB headquarters and the use of multiple false identities and passports to conceal his activities.