Russia Orders Hungarian Diplomats to Leave Within Two Weeks

Russia has ordered Hungarian diplomatic staff at its embassy in Moscow and consulates in St. Petersburg and Kazan to leave within two weeks, the countries’ foreign ministries said, retaliating for Hungary’s expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats in September. Moscow did not disclose how many Hungarian staff members are affected. Hungary’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged the order and said Budapest was not seeking to escalate tensions but stood by its earlier decision. It said Hungary would maintain its diplomatic presence in Russia. The Russian order applies to staff at the embassy and both consulates, though the reports did not specify whether all three missions would continue operating as before. Hungary ordered the 10 Russian diplomats to leave on September 8. Hungarian officials said the decision was taken on national-security grounds, citing activities they considered unacceptable for diplomats under the Vienna Convention. The supplied accounts do not provide independent evidence of those alleged activities. Russia described Hungary’s action as baseless and unfriendly, presenting its own order as a reciprocal measure.