Austrian Ambassador to Moscow Werner Almhofer was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry. According to RBC, he was informed that four employees of the diplomatic mission were declared persona non grata and would have to leave the territory of the Russian Federation before the end of the day on February 23.
The Foreign Ministry’s statement indicates that this is a response to the expulsion of four employees of Russian foreign missions in Austria, which Moscow considers “an unfriendly and unjustified step”, which causes serious damage to both bilateral relations and the international prestige of Austria, which “previously positioned itself as neutral state.
Almhofer was also told that the emerging difficulties with obtaining visas for official Russian delegations contradict Austria’s obligations as a platform for international meetings.
The Austrian authorities announced the expulsion of four Russians on 2 February. Two employees of the embassy were accused of actions incompatible with diplomatic status, and two employees of missions to international organizations of violating the headquarters agreement.
Source: Rosbalt
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