Austria announced the expulsion of two Russian diplomats stationed in Vienna, citing espionage as the reason behind the decision.
The Austrian Foreign Ministry stated that the diplomats were involved in activities that contravened their diplomatic roles, leading to their designation as “personae non gratae,” though specific details of their actions were not disclosed.
The diplomats have been given a deadline of March 19 to exit the country. An unnamed Austrian official confirmed that the expulsions were due to allegations of spying.
In response, Russia‘s Foreign Ministry, as reported by RIA Novosti, promised reciprocal action to what it deemed an unjustified move by Vienna.
The Russian Embassy in Austria expressed strong condemnation through a statement on Telegram, criticizing the lack of evidence and deeming the expulsion a politically motivated act by the Austrian authorities.
The embassy warned of a firm response from Moscow and attributed any further deterioration in bilateral relations to Austria’s actions.
This incident adds to a series of diplomatic expulsions between Western European countries and Russia, particularly since the onset of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.
Despite Austria’s longstanding policy of military neutrality and its role as a host for various U.N. agencies, the country has increasingly taken action against Russian diplomats, including expulsions in April 2022 and February 2023, amidst growing domestic and EU pressure.
