Former Austrian minister Karin Kneissl relocates to Russia accompanied by her ponies

Austria's former foreign minister, Karin Kneissl, who is considered pro-Russian, has relocated to St. Petersburg along with her two ponies. Previously residing in Lebanon, Kneissl left the government following a scandal engulfing the far-right Austrian party that appointed her. She stated that her ponies were transported to St. Petersburg from Syria aboard a Russian military plane. Kneissl has decided to move to Russia in order to run a think tank at St. Petersburg University, called the Gorki center. She had been commuting to Russia to teach while living in Lebanon, but now considers her move to Russia as a permanent solution. Kneissl, who is known for her fondness for animals, explained that she opted for a military transport plane due to the sanctions against Syria and the resulting security situation. The ponies have since been examined and placed in quarantine by the veterinary department of the Leningrad region. Karin Kneissl served as Austria's foreign minister from 2017 to 2019, selected by Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ), which has close ties with Russia. She gained media attention in 2018 when she invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to her wedding in southern Austria. Kneissl recently announced her move to Russia while attending the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, an event promoting investment in Russia's far east. During the forum, she appeared to fall asleep while listening to Putin's keynote speech, as captured by the cameras. Kneissl is a regular commentator on the Russian state-backed news channel RT and was previously a board member of the state-owned oil company, Rosneft. The collapse of the government coalition between the conservatives and the far-right Freedom Party in 2019, prompted Kneissl to leave Austria, citing death threats and a de facto work ban. The coalition came to an end after FPÖ leader Heinz Christian Strache was recorded in a sting video promising government contracts to an individual posing as the niece of a Russian oligarch. The Freedom Party is currently in opposition but leading in the polls, making it a strong contender to return to the government in the upcoming elections. The party's new leader, Herbert Kickl, has criticized EU sanctions against Russia, attributing them to the rising cost of living. Concerns have been raised among Austria's EU and Western allies regarding the Freedom Party's links to the Kremlin. Peter Gridling, Austria's former spymaster, expressed worry about the party's connections with Russia, stating that they still maintain contact and have not distanced themselves from the Kremlin. Gridling emphasized that intelligence involves a long game, and the Russians have a strategic perspective. It is worth noting that Vienna, the Austrian capital, has a longstanding history as a hub for espionage, which persists to this day.