Official Moscow has decided to expel employees of the Hungarian embassy and general consulates in response to a similar unfriendly step taken by Budapest. This measure has become a new round of tension in diplomatic relations between the two states, developing against the backdrop of earlier measures taken by the Hungarian authorities against Russian representatives.
Summoning the Chargé d'Affaires and Ultimatum Details
As part of implementing response measures, Gabor Gergich, the Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of Hungary in Russia, was summoned to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A strong protest was expressed to the Hungarian diplomat regarding his country's authorities' decision to expel ten employees of the Russian embassy from Budapest. According to the requirements of the Russian side, Hungarian diplomats representing the embassy in Moscow, as well as general consulates in St. Petersburg and Kazan, must leave the territory of the Russian Federation within two weeks from the moment the decision is announced.
Contradictory Data
At the same time, the official departments of both countries provide differing details regarding the scale and nature of the steps being taken. While the Hungarian side openly announced the expulsion of exactly ten employees of the diplomatic mission due to activities allegedly incompatible with their official status under the Vienna Convention, Moscow in its official statements chose not to specify the exact number of Hungarian diplomats falling under the retaliatory expulsion. Experts note that such asymmetry in public rhetoric may indicate the parties' desire to leave room for further maneuvering.
Budapest's Reaction and Prospects for Bilateral Relations
The Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs promptly reacted to the actions of the Russian side, stating that Budapest "takes note" of Moscow's decision. Representatives of the Hungarian foreign policy department emphasized that the country intends to maintain its diplomatic presence in Russia, and all diplomatic missions continue to operate in a full-fledged mode. Budapest also noted the lack of interest in further escalation of the conflict, although it confirmed the immutability of its initial course, adopted, according to the authorities, solely for reasons of national security.
