Die Republik Österreich
Foreign Ministry Summons Austrian Ambassador
PRESS RELEASE
The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Austrian ambassador to Moscow Martin Vukovich on June 15 to declare its categorical nonacceptance of the arrest in Austria on a farfetched charge of a Russian Federation citizen/official of the Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) who was a member of the Russian delegation at a meeting of the UN Space Committee in Vienna. This move of the Austrian side is seen as unfriendly and harming bilateral relations.
It was also emphasized that the actions of the Austrian authorities run counter to the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, in accordance with which officials who are members of delegations of their countries in UN meetings enjoy immunity from personal arrest or detention. In this connection it is obvious that the incident also does not strengthen the authority of Austria as the location of the headquarters of a number of international organizations of the UN system.
It was again demanded of the Austrian side that the arrested Roscosmos official be immediately released and allowed to return home.
June 15, 2007