Four Ukrainians arrested in Vienna on suspicion of spying

VIENNA, Oct 9 (Reuters) - ‌Four Ukrainians ​were ​arrested in Vienna this week on suspicion of spying, Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner ‌said on Friday, with Ukrainska Pravda newspaper saying ⁠two of its team were among those detained.

Three remain in ‌custody, Karner said, declining ‌to provide further details because the investigation was ongoing.

Austrian news agency APA quoted a spokeswoman for the ​Ukrainian embassy in Vienna as saying it was awaiting an explanation from the Austrian authorities on ⁠the circumstances of and legal grounds for the arrests. The embassy ​did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

Ukrainska Pravda's editor in chief ​Sevgil Musaieva said in a Facebook ‌post investigative journalist Mykhailo Tkach was released after more than 12 hours of ⁠detention on Thursday in Vienna.

"However, his communication devices have not been returned, so the editorial office is currently unable ⁠to contact him directly," she said. She said cameraman Yaroslav ​Bondarenko was injured during his detention.

"Currently, we are unaware of the procedural status of both journalists," she added.

Austrian magazine Profil ‌said Bondarenko would soon be released, citing a spokeswoman for the Vienna prosecutors' office.

It ‌said the two other men, arrested on Monday, ⁠were suspected of spying ‌for a Ukrainian ​intelligence service and were being held while the investigation continued.

(Reporting by Francois Murphy;Editing by Alison ‌Williams)

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