Hungary: 10 Russian Diplomats Expelled, Moscow Promises Retaliation

Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán stated that the ten diplomats had engaged in activities in Hungary deemed unacceptable under the Vienna Convention. She did not specify the nature of these actions nor disclose the names or positions of the individuals involved.

Budapest presents the measure as a decision aimed at protecting the security and sovereignty of the country. The Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Russian ambassador of the decision and requested the diplomats concerned to leave the territory.

Russia immediately announced that it would respond. Its ambassador to Budapest, Evgueni Stanislavov, condemned an unjustified escalation and indicated that a response would be given. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also promised reprisals, without specifying their form or timing.

The Hungarian government nevertheless insists that the expulsion does not signify a break in diplomatic relations. Anita Orbán stated that Budapest intends to continue the necessary dialogue with Moscow, based on mutual respect and diplomatic protocols.

A turning point in relations between Budapest and Moscow

This decision marks a clear shift from the approach followed under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who was defeated in the April legislative elections after sixteen years in power. His government had maintained close ties with the Kremlin following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and had regularly opposed certain European initiatives targeting Moscow.

The new Prime Minister Péter Magyar, on the contrary, has made rapprochement with the European Union and NATO one of the pillars of his foreign policy. His government says it wants to restore trust with Western partners while maintaining pragmatic relations with Russia, particularly on economic and energy issues.

The symbolic significance of the expulsion is all the greater given that Hungary had not publicly expelled Russian diplomats since 2018. After the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, many European countries carried out mass expulsions of Russian representatives, often amid suspicions of intelligence activities. Budapest had remained on the sidelines of this movement.

Moscow announces a response

Hungarian authorities have not publicly equated the activities attributed to the ten diplomats with espionage. However, the European Commission has recalled that several member states have strengthened their measures in recent years against Russian activities described as hybrid. In this context, Berlin recently ordered the closure of the Russian House following a hybrid attack.

In Moscow, the tone used suggests a reciprocal measure against the Hungarian representation in Russia. However, no concrete decision had been announced immediately. The episode marks a new phase in relations between the two countries, as Budapest seeks to redefine its place within the European bloc without completely closing the door to dialogue with the Kremlin.