Austria Expels 4 Russian Diplomats Linked to Espionage, Official Says
VIENNA (AP) — Austria on Friday ordered four Russian diplomats to leave the country after accusing them of espionage, an Austrian official said.
Austria has expelled four Russian diplomats from the country, accusing them of espionage, according to an Austrian official. The expulsions come amid concerns over spying in Vienna, a city known for its concentration of international organizations and diplomats due to its lenient espionage laws. Three of the four diplomats were based at the Russian Embassy in Vienna, while the fourth worked at Moscow's mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
The Austrian Foreign Ministry declared the diplomats "personae non gratae" and instructed them to leave the country within days. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Dmitry Lyubinsky, responded by stating that a reaction was unavoidable. This is the 18th case of Russian diplomats being expelled from Austria since 2020. Austria, a European Union member that maintains a policy of military neutrality, has provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine but not military equipment since the country's full-scale invasion.
The expulsions have led to a reduction in the size of some Russian diplomatic missions across Europe.
Written by urgent.news from The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
