{
  "id": 6285708,
  "title": "Hungary expels 10 Russian diplomats amid espionage concerns",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/hungary-expels-10-russian-diplomats-amid-espionage-concerns",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T14:03:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Politico EU",
    "slug": "politico-eu",
    "url": "https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-expels-10-russian-diplomats-amid-espionage-concerns/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "Prime Minister Péter Magyar said the diplomats were engaging in \"unacceptable activities,\" but did not specify the allegations against them.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 12,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Hungary orders 10 Russian diplomats to leave the country over activities deemed unacceptable",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/hungary-orders-10-russian-diplomats-to-leave-the-country-over",
        "published": "2026-09-08T09:34:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News (US)",
        "title": "Hungary orders 10 Russian diplomats to leave country over 'unacceptable' activities",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/hungary-orders-10-russian-diplomats-to-leave-country-over",
        "published": "2026-09-08T10:26:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "Hungary expels 10 Russian diplomatic staff for 'unacceptable activities'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/hungary-expels-10-russian-diplomatic-staff-for-unacceptable-activities",
        "published": "2026-09-08T10:31:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "Hungary orders 10 Russian diplomats to leave",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/hungary-orders-10-russian-diplomats-to-leave",
        "published": "2026-09-08T10:49:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "Hungary orders 10 Russian diplomats to leave the country over activities deemed unacceptable",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/hungary-orders-10-russian-diplomats-to-leave-the-country-over-6268108",
        "published": "2026-09-08T10:53:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Hungary expels 10 Russian diplomats, Moscow vows ‘painful’ response",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/hungary-expels-10-russian-diplomats-moscow-vows-painful-response",
        "published": "2026-09-08T11:20:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Interfax-Ukraine",
        "title": "Hungary expels 10 Russian diplomats – foreign ministry",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/hungary-expels-10-russian-diplomats-foreign-ministry",
        "published": "2026-09-08T12:52:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Hungary expels 10 Russian diplomats, foreign minister says in major break from Viktor Orban era",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/hungary-expels-10-russian-diplomats-foreign-minister-says-in-major",
        "published": "2026-09-08T14:38:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Hungary expels 10 Russian diplomats as relations worsen",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/hungary-expels-10-russian-diplomats-as-relations-worsen",
        "published": "2026-09-08T14:38:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Voice of Ukraine",
        "title": "Ukraine welcomes Hungary’s move against Russian diplomats and calls for wider EU restrictions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/ukraine-welcomes-hungarys-move-against-russian-diplomats-and-calls",
        "published": "2026-09-08T14:43:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Meduza (English)",
        "title": "Hungary expels 10 Russian diplomats",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/hungary-expels-10-russian-diplomats",
        "published": "2026-09-08T14:49:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}