Hungary Expels 10 Russian Diplomats, Moscow Threatens Retaliation
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hungary said on Tuesday that 10 members of the Russian diplomatic mission must leave the country after authorities judged their conduct incompatible with diplomatic status under the Vienna Convention. Moscow quickly warned of a retaliatory response, but Budapest said it still intends to maintain necessary dialogue with Russia.
Key Points
- Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban said 10 Russian diplomats were asked to leave on Tuesday over activities deemed unacceptable under the Vienna Convention.
- In an emailed statement, Anita Orban said the expulsions did not mean severing diplomatic relations and that Hungary would continue necessary dialogue with Russia.
- Russia’s foreign ministry said it would retaliate, with spokeswoman Maria Zakharova saying the response to what she called the “Russophobic lobby” in Budapest would be harsh and painful.
- The move marks a sharp change after Viktor Orban lost power in April, ending 16 years in office during which he maintained close ties with Vladimir Putin.
- Under Viktor Orban, Hungary kept buying Russian oil and gas, delayed EU sanctions on Russia and blocked a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers tracking Europe’s political direction, the expulsions point to a clearer Hungarian alignment with the EU and Nato after years of friction over Russia policy. The immediate risk is a further diplomatic clash between Budapest and Moscow, with Russia already promising a painful response.