Russia has ordered Hungarian diplomatic staff to leave, describing the decision as retaliation for Budapest’s expulsion of ten Russian staff in September. The measure affects Hungary’s embassy in Moscow and consulates in St Petersburg and Kazan; the number involved was not disclosed. Hungary maintains its earlier national-security decision and says its missions in Russia continue operating.
Russia ordered Hungarian diplomatic personnel to leave on 1 October, describing the action as retaliation for Budapest’s September expulsions. Staff at Hungary’s embassy in Moscow and consulates in St Petersburg and Kazan are affected. Russia’s Foreign Ministry informed Gábor Gergics, Hungary’s chargé d’affaires, the diplomat temporarily heading its mission. The number of Hungarian staff ordered out was not disclosed.[1], [2]
Hungary’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged the Russian decision and said it had no interest in escalating diplomatic tensions. It maintained the earlier measure taken on national-security grounds. The ministry also said its missions in Russia continued operating and that Hungary’s diplomatic presence would remain. The expulsion affects personnel while diplomatic contacts through the embassy in Moscow continue.[1]
On 8 September, Budapest ordered ten Russian diplomatic staff to leave. Foreign Minister Anita Orbán said their activities were incompatible with diplomatic status under the Vienna Convention, which governs relations between states’ diplomatic missions. The specific activities remain Hungary’s allegation. Russian Ambassador Yevgeny Stanislavov called that action an unwarranted escalation and promised a response. The new Russian order implements the retaliation previously announced by Moscow.[1]
