Hungary’s expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats has drawn a response from Moscow. Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced that several Hungarian diplomats would be expelled.
The employees declared persona non grata were serving at Hungary’s embassy in Moscow and its consulates in St. Petersburg and Kazan. The diplomats were given two weeks to leave Russia.
Moscow delivers protest to Budapest
Russia objected to Hungary’s justification that the expelled diplomats had engaged in “activities incompatible with their status.” In diplomatic language, the expression is frequently used as a euphemism for espionage activities.
Moscow summoned Hungary’s chargé d’affaires, Gábor Gergics, and described the decision as an “unfounded and clearly unfriendly” step. It also delivered a “firm protest” to Gergics.
Budapest does not want tensions to escalate
Hungary’s Foreign Ministry said it accepted Russia’s retaliatory decision and announced that the country “has no interest in an escalation of diplomatic tensions.”
Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán announced on September 8 that 10 Russian diplomats had been expelled for “activities incompatible with their status.” Russia had also announced that it would retaliate following the decision.
Hungary’s approach to Russia and the European Union
Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán left office in April after ending his 16-year rule following an election. Orbán had maintained close relations with Russia and President Vladimir Putin after the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine.
His successor, Péter Magyar, who took office in May, sought to repair relations with the European Union and Ukraine, which had deteriorated during the previous period.
