Overview
- Hungary ordered ten members of Russia’s diplomatic mission to leave after assessing they had carried out activities “unacceptable for diplomats” under the Vienna Convention, the foreign ministry announced on Tuesday.
- Moscow vowed a “harsh and painful” response through its foreign ministry spokesperson and Russian lawmakers warned of possible cuts to joint economic projects.
- Budapest said the step protects Hungary’s security and sovereignty and does not mean it is severing diplomatic ties with Russia, while the foreign ministry declined to publicly detail the alleged activities.
- The decision marks a clear policy shift under Prime Minister Péter Magyar from the previous Viktor Orbán era and follows investigative reporting and a quiet May expulsion that raised concerns about Russian intelligence links at the embassy.
- The European Commission said it took note of Hungary’s choice and signalled coordination with member states, leaving open short‑term risks of reciprocal measures and possible effects on bilateral economic cooperation.