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Hungary Expels 10 Russian Diplomats Over 'Unacceptable' Activities
Confirmed
In Short: Hungary has expelled 10 Russian diplomats, escalating tensions with Moscow, as the new government pivots away from its predecessor's pro-Kremlin stance.
Hungary has expelled 10 Russian diplomats, escalating tensions with Moscow, as the new government pivots away from its predecessor's pro-Kremlin stance. The move, announced by Foreign Minister Anita Orbán, was in response to what she called 'unacceptable' activities by the diplomats. Russia has promised a 'harsh and painful' response, according to reports.
Orbán stated that the decision was intended to protect Hungary's security and sovereignty, adding that it does not imply breaking off diplomatic relations with Russia. However, the foreign ministry spokeswoman in Moscow said the response to the 'Russophobic' lobby would be 'harsh and painful.
The decision comes after months of increasing scrutiny of Russian activities in Hungary. Independent Russian investigative website Agentsvo reported that 15 of the 47 Russian embassy staff in Budapest were linked to Russian intelligence agencies, and six more might be linked. Prior to the election, Hungary had maintained close relations with Moscow, citing cheap Russian oil imports.
Prime Minister Péter Magyar promised 'pragmatic' relations with Moscow from the moment his Tisza party was elected in April. However, the new government has since broken with the previous Fidesz government's policies, with new guidelines spelling out that Russia's conduct in Ukraine 'poses a threat to Hungary, Europe, and the global order.
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- "This decision protects Hungary's security and sovereignty," she wrote on social media, without giving details.
- Commentators have pointed out that her predecessor had not summoned the ambassador since the start of the Russian full-scale invasion in 2022.
- Hungary's next PM would pick up if Putin calls and tell him to stop Ukraine war Budapest's promise of pragmatic co-operation was worth absolutely nothing, he complained, adding that Hungary's "extremely unfriendly step constitutes an unprecedented and ungrounded escalation".
- Former Hungarian counter-intelligence chief András Telkes told the BBC that even though "Russian spying activity" had been investigated before the election, the Fidesz government had prevented any action being taken.
- In May Anita Orbán summoned the Russian ambassador to protest against a big drone attack on the Transcarpathia region of Ukraine that is home to a large Hungarian minority.
- ‘Today, on my instruction, the competent head of the Foreign Ministry informed Russia’s ambassador in Budapest that, according to the assessment of the Hungarian authorities, ten employees of the Russian representation had carried out activities in Hungary that are unacceptable for a diplomat under the Vienna Convention,’ Orbán wrote.
- Acting on my instructions, on Tuesday the relevant official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Russian ambassador to Hungary that, according to the assessment of the Hungarian authorities, 10 members of the Russian mission had engaged in activities in Hungary that… Prime Minister Péter Magyar also read out Orbán’s announcement in parliament on Tuesday, saying the Tisza government would defend Hungary’s sovereignty.