Austria's foreign ministry said on Friday it is expelling four Vienna-based Russian diplomats over "activities incompatible with their diplomatic status", a term usually used for spying, Reuters reported.
Source: Reuters via Devdiscourse
"Based on findings by the Austrian security authorities, the Austrian foreign ministry has taken measures against four Russian diplomats in Vienna," the ministry said in a statement quoted by Reuters, adding that three of the diplomats worked at Russia's embassy to Austria and one at Russia's mission to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), where the role covers military security and arms control.
Russia will respond to Austria's decision to declare the four diplomats personae non gratae, Russian news agencies cited a foreign ministry official as saying on Friday, Reuters reported in a separate dispatch. The Russian embassy in Vienna had not immediately commented.
Source: Reuters via Devdiscourse
The expulsions bring to 18 the total number of Russian diplomats Austria has ordered out since 2020, according to reporting on the announcement. In May, Austria expelled three Russian diplomats over what it described as an "antenna forest" on the roofs of Russian diplomatic buildings that could be used for spying.
Source: Globe TV
Austria is formally neutral, but its governments have backed Ukraine politically since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Vienna is home to the OSCE and to United Nations agencies including the International Atomic Energy Agency, and has long been regarded as a centre for intelligence activity.
Four diplomats expelled: three from Russia's embassy to Austria, one from its OSCE mission. Austria cited its security authorities' findings and gave no further detail. Russia says a response will follow.