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According to the Federal Chancellery, intensive contractual negotiations are under way with the Russian side. No decision has been made yet.
Austria is currently negotiating with Russia the delivery of one million doses of the corona vaccine Sputnik V. Sputnik V is not yet approved in the European Union. However, the EU Medicines Agency (EMA) has started the so-called continuous approval procedure. During a health emergency, the necessary data can be sent and successively checked if available. The procedure can be sped up in this way.
The Federal Chancellery in Vienna said on Tuesday that a confidentiality agreement had been signed with Russia on the exchange of documents. Austrian health authorities would also have access to the documents. Negotiations are underway for the delivery of 300,000 cans in April, 500,000 cans in May and 200,000 cans in early June. A purchase decision has not been made yet.
Talks since the end of February
Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 26 and discussed possible deliveries of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine to Austria, according to the Federal Chancellery. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which is responsible for Sputnik V’s international sales, was contacted the same day. On March 5, Kurz spoke with Kirill Dmitriev, executive director of RDIF. Since then, there have been several videoconferences and phone calls with the RDIF and the Russian ambassador to Austria, Dmitri Lyubinski, with the participation of the Ministry of Health and the Financial Prosecutor’s Office.
Until now, Kurz had always stated that the prerequisite for delivery to Austria was EU approval of the Russian vaccine. In a statement Tuesday, the chancellor stressed that there should be no “geopolitical blinders” with the vaccine. “The only thing that matters is whether the vaccine is effective and safe, not where it comes from.” There has been a good exchange with the Russian side since February, for which he is very grateful, Kurz said. “If Austria receives an additional 1 million doses of vaccine, an earlier return to normalcy would be possible and we can save many lives and jobs.”
