Russia Expels 4 Austrian Diplomats In “Tit For Tat” Transfer

They’re given till February 23 to depart the nation. (Representational)

Moscow:

Moscow mentioned immediately it was expelling 4 Austrian diplomats after Vienna expelled 4 workers of Russia’s overseas missions in Austria, with tensions hovering over the Ukraine battle.

The overseas ministry mentioned the expulsion of its diplomats had been an “unfriendly and unjustified step” that “causes critical harm to bilateral relations, that are already in disaster because of the actions of the Austrian facet”. 

Austria and different EU nations have expelled dozens of Russian diplomats since Moscow launched a navy marketing campaign in Ukraine, with Russia reciprocating the measures. 

The ministry mentioned it summoned Austria’s ambassador to Moscow and knowledgeable him that 4 workers of Austria’s embassy in Russia have been “declared persona non grata”. 

They’re given till February 23 to depart the nation.

“The ambassador’s consideration was additionally drawn to the rising difficulties with acquiring visas for official Russian delegations travelling to Vienna,” the ministry added in its assertion.

Earlier in February, Vienna mentioned it was expelling 4 Russian diplomats, together with two accredited with the United Nations in Vienna, saying they acted “in a fashion incompatible with their diplomatic standing”. 

Diplomatic expulsions are uncommon in impartial Austria, which loved shut relations with Russia earlier than Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine.

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