Austria Expels Four Russian Diplomats for Espionage

Austria has ordered four Russian diplomats to leave the country, citing espionage activities that are incompatible with their diplomatic status, an Austrian official confirmed Friday.

The four individuals, three of whom were accredited to the Russian Embassy in Vienna and one to Moscow's mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, have been declared persona non grata and are expected to depart in the coming days.

Vienna, due to its status as a hub for international organizations and relatively permissive espionage laws, has long been considered a significant center for intelligence operations. The Austrian Foreign Ministry did not provide specific details about the diplomats or their alleged activities, only stating they had engaged in actions contrary to their diplomatic roles.

This expulsion marks the latest in a series of diplomatic expulsions between European nations and Russia, particularly in the wake of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Austria, while providing aid to Ukraine, maintains a policy of military neutrality and has not supplied military equipment.

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky responded to the expulsion by stating that a Russian reaction was unavoidable. The expulsions bring the total number of Russian diplomats expelled from Austria since 2020 to 18.

In May, Austria expelled three Russian Embassy employees suspected of espionage through the use of antennas on Russian diplomatic buildings, which were reportedly used to intercept data transmitted by international organizations in Vienna via satellite internet. At that time, Austria's Foreign Ministry confirmed the espionage allegations.

Discussions are ongoing within the Austrian government to reform current espionage legislation. The proposed changes aim to broaden the scope of punishable espionage activities to include not only those targeting Austrian interests but also actions directed against international organizations based in the country. Vienna hosts numerous U.N. agencies, including the International Atomic Energy Agency and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, alongside other international bodies such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and OPEC.