Russia expels Hungarian diplomats in response to Budapest's decision

Russia has announced the expulsion of a group of Hungarian diplomats in response to Budapest's decision in September to expel ten employees of the Russian diplomatic mission.

According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Hungarian Chargé d'Affaires was summoned to the ministry on October 1. He was protested against Budapest's actions and informed of retaliatory measures.

Employees of the Hungarian Embassy in Moscow, as well as the country's consulates general in St. Petersburg and Kazan, must leave Russia within two weeks. The Russian side did not specify the exact number of expelled diplomats. These details are also confirmed by the Hungarian outlet Telex.

The current decision was a response to Hungary's move on September 8. At that time, the country's authorities demanded that ten employees of the Russian diplomatic mission leave Hungary. Foreign Minister Anita Orbán stated that, according to Hungarian authorities' assessment, they had engaged in activities incompatible with diplomatic status under the Vienna Convention.

Budapest explained its decision by considerations of national security and protection of sovereignty. At the same time, the Hungarian side emphasized that the expulsion of diplomats did not mean a severance of diplomatic relations with Russia.

After Moscow's retaliatory decision, the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it takes note of it. Budapest stressed that it is not interested in further escalation of the diplomatic conflict, but does not renounce its September decision.

"Our missions in Russia continue to function in full, Hungary's diplomatic presence in Russia will be maintained", — the Hungarian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Thus, diplomatic relations between the countries are maintained, but after the mutual expulsion of staff, the number of their missions will be reduced.

Sources: Hungarian MFA, Telex