Hungary expels 10 Russian diplomats to protect national security and sovereignty.
Hungary ordered the expulsion of 10 members of the Russian diplomatic mission in Budapest due to activities deemed unacceptable under the Vienna Convention. Foreign Minister Anita Orbán stated that the decision was made to protect Hungary's security and sovereignty while maintaining diplomatic contacts with Moscow.
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The Russian Foreign Ministry vowed to provide an appropriate response to the move. This shift marks a change from the previous administration's warm relations with Russia. Under the previous leadership, Hungary was an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who frequently delayed or blocked EU sanctions on the Russian government. European Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand noted that the expulsions were an expected reaction to Russia's persistent campaign of hybrid attacks against the European Union and its member states. Meanwhile, Romanian authorities detained a 40-year-old Russian citizen suspected of spying for Moscow between February and July of this year. The suspect was accused of taking photos of Romanian and NATO equipment to collect military information.