Austria's Freedom Party seeks answers on Ukrainian cargo transit

The party is demanding clarification over a 200-kilogram shipment ahead of January's Davos forum. The contents remain unknown.

Kronen Zeitung reported on October 10 that the shipment travelled in a Volkswagen minibus it linked to Ukrainian intelligence services. The newspaper said the vehicle was allowed through Austria without customs or security inspections.

Freedom Party Secretary-General Christian Hafenecker demanded to know who authorised the transit and the lack of checks. His questions about whether the cargo contained cash, gold or weapons do not establish that any of those items were aboard.

The newspaper reported a diplomatic note requesting passage for a Ukrainian convoy travelling to the World Economic Forum. Austria's Foreign Ministry told the publication it had forwarded the relevant note to the Interior Ministry.

The quoted ministry response did not disclose the contents of the cargo or explain the grounds for waiving inspections. According to the newspaper, the Freedom Party intends to pursue further parliamentary questions about the case.