Austrian Former Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl transported her ponies on a Russian military plane. Kneissl has moved to St. Petersburg and will head a think tank. What is the history between Kneissl and Putin? Molly Gambhir brings you a report.

Gravitas: Austrian diplomat flies ponies on Russian military plane

Former Austrian minister Karin Kneissl moved to Russia, along with her two ponies, which she transported to the country via a Russian military plane.

Kneissl, in a conversation with Russia's state-owned Tass news agency, revealed that she would be moving to St Petersburg to work at the Geopolitical Observatory for Russia’s Key Issues [GORKI].

The think tank was set up to "help define the policies for the Russian Federation" with a focus on the Near and Middle East.&nbsp;

"I co-founded the Gorki centre and manage it," Tass news agency quoted Kneissl as saying. "Since there is a lot of work there and it requires a lot of attention, I cannot do this in passing. I decided to move to St. Petersburg for this work."&nbsp;

As per a report by Russian investigative website The Insider, Kneissl's ponies were flown to Saint Petersburg on a military aircraft last week from the Russian air base at Hmeimim in Syria.

"It was impossible for me to drive a lorry through Syria under the circumstances of the war," Kneissl confirmed to news agency AFP on Wednesday (September 13).

"Due to sanctions, there are no flights or DHL (shipping service)," Kneissl wrote on Telegram, flabbergasted that her "move has become a political issue". &nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-not-for-sale-taipei-slams-elon-musk-over-latest-china-comments-635952">Taiwan 'not for sale': Taipei slams Elon Musk over ‘blindly flattering’ comments for China</a>

In the year 2018, the then-foreign minister of neutral Austria, Kneissl made headlines when she invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to her wedding in Austria and also danced with him. She left the government the very next year and moved to France in September 2020.

The 58-year-old claimed that she was pressured to leave which is why she had temporarily settled in a small village in Lebanon.

In the year 2021, Kneissl joined the Board of Directors of the Russian oil giant Rosneft.

She stepped down from her position in May 2022 after the European Parliament passed a resolution threatening sanctions against Europeans still on the boards of major Russian companies.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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Former Austrian minister Karin Kneissl moved to Russia, along with her two ponies, which she transported to the country via a Russian military plane. Kneissl, in a conversation with Russia's state-owned Tass news agency, revealed that she would be moving to St Petersburg to work at the Geopolitical Observatory for Russia’s Key Issues [GORKI].

Former Austrian minister Karin Kneissl moved to Russia, along with her two ponies, which she transported to the country via a Russian military plane. Kneissl, in a conversation with Russia's state-owned Tass news agency, revealed that she would be moving to St Petersburg to work at the Geopolitical Observatory for Russia’s Key Issues [GORKI]. The think tank was set up to "help define the policies for the Russian Federation" with a focus on the Near and Middle East. "I co-founded the Gorki centre and manage it," Tass news agency quoted Kneissl as saying. "Since there is a lot of work there and it requires a lot of attention, I cannot do this in passing. I decided to move to St. Petersburg for this work." As per a report by Russian investigative website The Insider, Kneissl's ponies were flown to Saint Petersburg on a military aircraft last week from the Russian air base at Hmeimim in Syria. "It was impossible for me to drive a lorry through Syria under the circumstances of the war," Kneissl confirmed to news agency AFP on Wednesday (September 13). "Due to sanctions, there are no flights or DHL (shipping service)," Kneissl wrote on Telegram, flabbergasted that her "move has become a political issue". Also read: Taiwan 'not for sale': Taipei slams Elon Musk over ‘blindly flattering’ comments for China In the year 2018, the then-foreign minister of neutral Austria, Kneissl made headlines when she invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to her wedding in Austria and also danced with him. She left the government the very next year and moved to France in September 2020. The 58-year-old claimed that she was pressured to leave which is why she had temporarily settled in a small village in Lebanon. In the year 2021, Kneissl joined the Board of Directors of the Russian oil giant Rosneft. She stepped down from her position in May 2022 after the European Parliament passed a resolution threatening sanctions against Europeans still on the boards of major Russian companies. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Former Austrian minister moves to Russia, flies her two ponies on board Russian military plane

Russia said on Saturday that Austria's "unfounded accusations" in a spy scandal were unacceptable while Vienna expressed hope the affair would not hurt bilateral ties.

On Friday, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said his country had launched a probe into a colonel suspected of spying for Russia for several decades.

The spy row risks hurting Russia's ties with one of its rare European allies.&nbsp;

It is the latest in a string of cases where Moscow has been accused of espionage in EU states and elsewhere.

Moscow said that Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl called her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to explain her country's motives.

She "expressed hope that the steps will not affect the further development of bilateral cooperation," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.&nbsp;

Lavrov for his part reiterated Moscow's displeasure that Vienna chose to air its grievances in public.

He said the practice of voicing "unfounded accusations" publicly was unacceptable, the foreign ministry said.

"Any possible mutual concerns should be discussed through established channels of dialogue and be based on facts," the statement said.

In August, Kneissl sparked a row in Austria and beyond after she waltzed with Russian President Vladimir Putin and bowed to him at her wedding, with critics saying her behaviour hurt the country's image.

Austria suspects a 70-year-old army official of working with Russian intelligence for several decades and is investigating him for allegedly revealing state secrets.

Austria is not a member of NATO and sets great store by its status as a neutral country.&nbsp;

It was one of the few European countries not to expel Russian diplomats following the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Britain in March. 
&nbsp;

Russia said on Saturday that Austria's "unfounded accusations" in a spy scandal were unacceptable while Vienna expressed hope the affair would not hurt bilateral ties.

Russia said on Saturday that Austria's "unfounded accusations" in a spy scandal were unacceptable while Vienna expressed hope the affair would not hurt bilateral ties. On Friday, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said his country had launched a probe into a colonel suspected of spying for Russia for several decades. The spy row risks hurting Russia's ties with one of its rare European allies. It is the latest in a string of cases where Moscow has been accused of espionage in EU states and elsewhere. Moscow said that Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl called her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to explain her country's motives. She "expressed hope that the steps will not affect the further development of bilateral cooperation," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement. Lavrov for his part reiterated Moscow's displeasure that Vienna chose to air its grievances in public. He said the practice of voicing "unfounded accusations" publicly was unacceptable, the foreign ministry said. "Any possible mutual concerns should be discussed through established channels of dialogue and be based on facts," the statement said. In August, Kneissl sparked a row in Austria and beyond after she waltzed with Russian President Vladimir Putin and bowed to him at her wedding, with critics saying her behaviour hurt the country's image. Austria suspects a 70-year-old army official of working with Russian intelligence for several decades and is investigating him for allegedly revealing state secrets. Austria is not a member of NATO and sets great store by its status as a neutral country. It was one of the few European countries not to expel Russian diplomats following the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Britain in March.

Russia slams Austria for 'unfounded accusations' in spy row

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Gravitas: Austrian diplomat flies ponies on Russian military plane

Former Austrian minister moves to Russia, flies her two ponies on board Russian military plane

Russia slams Austria for 'unfounded accusations' in spy row