Russia expels Hungarian diplomats in tit-for-tat move

MOSCOW, October 1. /TASS/. Hungarian Charge d’Affaires Gabor Gergics has been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry, where he received a strong protest over the expulsion of Russian diplomats, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It also said that, as a retaliatory measure, several employees of the Hungarian embassy in Moscow, as well as the Hungarian consulates general in St. Petersburg and Kazan, must leave Russia.

TASS has compiled the key points surrounding the decision.

Summoning of the Hungarian charge d’affaires to the Russian Foreign Ministry

- The Hungarian Charge d'Affaires in Russia Gabor Gergics was called in to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the diplomatic department said in a statement.

- He received a strong protest over Hungary’s "unfounded and openly unfriendly" demand that several Russian diplomatic staff leave the country.

Russia's response

- Gergics was informed that as a tit-for-tat measure a group of employees of the Hungarian embassy in Moscow, as well as the Hungarian consulates general in St. Petersburg and Kazan must leave Russia within two weeks.

Hungary’s reaction

- The Hungarian government takes note of Russia’s decision to expel Hungarian diplomats and is not interested in escalating tensions in relations with Russia, the Foreign Ministry said in response to TASS’s request to comment on Russia’s decision.

Expulsion of Russian diplomats

- Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban said on September 8 that ten Russian embassy staff in Budapest would be expelled.

- The Hungarian Foreign Ministry will not disclose details of the decision, it said in response to a TASS request.

- Prime Minister Peter Magyar read out Orban’s statement to parliament and confirmed the intention to protect the country’s security. He also refrained from providing any further details.

Russia’s reaction to the expulsion of diplomats

- Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova promised a tough and painful response to Hungary for expelling the diplomats.

- Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the expulsion would have a negative impact on the entire range of relations between Moscow and Budapest.

- The expulsion does not serve Hungary’s interests and indicates that the country is losing its foreign policy autonomy under the influence of Brussels, the Russian embassy in Hungary said on social media.