Russia Expels Hungarian Diplomats After Budapest Kicks Out 10 Russian Envoys

Russia has ordered the expulsion of Hungarian diplomatic staff from its embassy and consulates in the country, responding to Budapest’s earlier decision to expel 10 Russian diplomats, according to statements from the Russian and Hungarian foreign ministries on October 1.

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Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Hungary’s chargé d’affaires, Gábor Gergics, to formally protest Budapest’s decision to remove the Russian diplomats.

The ministry said Hungarian diplomatic personnel from the embassy in Moscow and the consulates general in St. Petersburg and Kazan would be required to leave Russia within two weeks. Moscow did not specify how many Hungarian diplomats would be affected by the measure.

Hungary’s Foreign Ministry said it had taken note of Moscow’s decision but stressed that the country would maintain its diplomatic presence in Russia, with its missions continuing to operate at full capacity.

“Hungary takes note of Russia’s response to our earlier measure. We have no interest in escalating diplomatic tensions, but stand by our decision taken on national security grounds,” the ministry said.

Just a month earlier, Hungary expelled 10 members of Russia’s diplomatic mission in Budapest over activities that Hungarian authorities said were inconsistent with their diplomatic status, Foreign Minister Anita Orbán announced.

Orbán said the Russian officials had engaged in conduct that was “unacceptable for diplomats” under the Vienna Convention.

Hungary’s Foreign Ministry subsequently notified the Russian ambassador in Budapest that the 10 members of the mission had been ordered to leave the country.

The diplomatic dispute comes as Hungary’s economic ties with Russia are also facing increased scrutiny. Hungary’s largest lender, OTP Bank, is reassessing its presence in the Russian market and considering a full withdrawal as it pursues the acquisition of Baltic lender Luminor Bank.

OTP remains one of several European banks operating in Russia following the start of the country’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Its Russian business is coming under greater regulatory scrutiny as the bank seeks to acquire Luminor in what would be its largest takeover to date and expand its presence in the euro area.

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