Austria expels four Russian diplomats
Photo: Reuters
Austria has announced the expulsion of four Russian diplomats stationed in Vienna over allegations of activities incompatible with their diplomatic status. Such wording is commonly used to refer to suspected espionage.
In a statement on Friday, Austria’s Foreign Ministry said action had been taken against the four Russian diplomats in Vienna based on investigations by the country’s security authorities. They were declared “persona non grata” and ordered to leave the country.
The ministry said three of the expelled diplomats worked at the Russian Embassy in Austria. The fourth was responsible for military security and arms control within Russia’s delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
The latest expulsions bring the total number of Russian diplomats expelled from Austria since 2020 to 18. Although Austria is a neutral country, successive governments have politically supported Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
In a statement published on its website, the Russian Embassy said, “Vienna is thoughtlessly following the West’s anti-Russian policy. An appropriate response to such measures is inevitable.”
The embassy described the expulsions as “another unfriendly step” by the Austrian authorities toward Russia.
Austria generally does not comment on the specific reasons behind such expulsions. However, when it expelled three Russian diplomats in May, the country said the large number of antennas on the roofs of Russian diplomatic buildings could be used for espionage.
Vienna is an important center for international diplomacy. It hosts the headquarters of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and several United Nations agencies, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Major powers such as Russia and the United States often appoint separate ambassadors to Austria, the OSCE and various United Nations agencies. These ambassadors operate separate embassies or missions under their respective authority.
After World War II, Vienna was divided into zones controlled by different Allied powers. The city has long been known as one of the world’s major espionage hubs. The presence of large numbers of foreign diplomats provides intelligence officers with opportunities to operate under the protection of diplomatic immunity.
