Russia orders diplomats out Hungary rejects escalation

Oct 1

CCTV reports that on October 1 Russia summoned Hungary's chargé d'affaires and protested Hungary's expulsion of Russian diplomats. Russia ordered an unspecified group of staff at Hungary's embassy and its St. Petersburg and Kazan consulates to leave within two weeks. It recalls Hungary's September expulsion of ten Russian diplomats for alleged Vienna Convention violations and carries Hungary's October 1 statement that it does not seek escalated diplomatic tension.

Russia declares several staff of Hungary's embassy in Moscow and consulates in St Petersburg and Kazan persona non grata and summons the chargé d'affaires on October 1. Vremya describes the measure as retaliation for Hungary's September 8 expulsion of ten Russian staff. It reports Budapest's stated desire to avoid escalation and continue cooperation. The programme gives no number for the Hungarian staff affected and presents its characterization of Hungary's earlier action as Russian-side framing. CCTV's October 2 report adds a two-week departure deadline for the Hungarian staff. It attributes Hungary's earlier expulsion to alleged Vienna Convention violations and relays Budapest's wish to avoid escalation. Vremya's description of Hungary not explaining its earlier action remains that source's Russian-side characterization; no independent finding on either allegation is established.