politics
May 5, 2026
Moscow vows harsh response after Austria expels Russian diplomats
Austria’s expulsion of Russian diplomats over antennas on embassy buildings has triggered a backlash from Moscow
TL;DR
- Austria expelled three Russian diplomats, accusing them of espionage via antennas on embassy roofs.
- The Russian Embassy in Vienna called the expulsion unjustified and politically motivated, warning of a harsh response.
- The embassy stated that Vienna provided no evidence of violations of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
- Since 2020, Austria has expelled 14 Russian representatives, with Moscow responding with tit-for-tat measures.
- Vienna plans to tighten its laws against espionage targeting the EU and international organizations.
- Austria, a host to several international organizations, had a reputation as a spy hub during the Cold War.
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