Hungary expels 10 Russian diplomats as relations worsen

Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán has ordered the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats from Budapest, citing their involvement in "unacceptable" activities. Orbán defended this decision, stating it safeguards Hungary's security and sovereignty. This move reflects a shift in Hungary's stance since the election of Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who has distanced the country from Russia's pro-Kremlin position.

The Hungarian government has called for an end to the conflict in Ukraine, a stance that Russia has rejected. Orbán summoned the Russian ambassador in protest of a drone attack on Transcarpathia, a region with a sizable Hungarian minority. Magyar has since issued guidelines indicating that Russia's actions in Ukraine threaten Hungary, Europe, and global order, as well as endangering the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia.

Russia's ambassador to Budapest, Evgeny Stanislavov, condemned the expulsion, calling it an "unprecedented and ungrounded escalation". Before Magyar's election, Hungary had maintained close ties with Russia for economic reasons, mainly due to cheap Russian oil imports. Independent investigations have previously suggested that Russian intelligence agencies had a presence in Budapest, but the Fidesz government allegedly prevented any action.

Despite this, hundreds of Russian diplomats have been expelled from various European countries since 2022, with Russia reciprocating these expulsions.