Hungary expels 10 Russian diplomats amid espionage concerns

Hungary has expelled ten Russian diplomats following concerns over espionage, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Orbán. The decision was made to safeguard the nation's "security and sovereignty," with Orbán alleging that the expelled diplomats had engaged in activities that violate the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.

The move was announced several months after Russian investigative outlet Agentstvo reported that nearly one-third of the Russian embassy's 47 staff in Budapest had ties to Russian intelligence. Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar echoed Orbán's sentiments, stating that the expelled diplomats had committed "unacceptable activities in Hungary."

Neither Orbán nor Magyar provided further details on the nature of the allegations. The Hungarian foreign ministry did not comment further on the decision. Orbán emphasized that this expulsion does not signify the severing of diplomatic relations with Russia. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova threatened a "harsh and painful" response, according to the Russian state news agency Interfax.

Prime Minister Magyar's administration has been striving to distance itself from Moscow since his predecessor Viktor Orbán stepped down in May. This stance marks a significant shift from the past cooperation between the Orbán family and the Kremlin. In July, Hungarian authorities initiated an investigation into former Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó over allegations of sharing sensitive information with Russian officials.

In August, Magyar's government labeled Russia as a "threat to Hungary, Europe and the global order" in its instructions to the delegation attending the U.N. General Assembly.