Austria expels four Russian diplomats over alleged misconduct

Austria’s Foreign Ministry announced on Friday the expulsion of four Russian diplomats from Vienna, accusing them of engaging in activities incompatible with their diplomatic status. In a statement, the ministry said three of the diplomats were assigned to the Russian Embassy, while the fourth was a member of Russia’s delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. All four have been declared persona non grata and ordered to leave Austrian territory.

The decision follows the findings of Austrian security authorities. Several European countries have taken similar measures since the start of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine in 2022, alongside imposing successive sanctions on Moscow.

In a related development, Hungary expelled ten members of the Russian diplomatic mission last September during Peter Medgyar’s tenure as prime minister, citing the need to protect the country’s security and sovereignty. Austria, which maintains neutrality and is not a NATO member, has expelled Russian diplomats on several occasions since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, though in smaller numbers compared to other European nations. Austria is often described as a hub for Russian spies due to its relatively lenient espionage laws.