Austria expels four Russian diplomats suspected of espionage, Moscow promises a retaliatory step

Austria has expelled four Russian diplomats due to activities incompatible with their diplomatic status. Three were stationed at the Russian embassy in Vienna, while one was part of the Russian delegation to the OSCE. The Austrian Foreign Ministry stated that the decision was based on security agency information, but did not provide further details. In response, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky indicated that Russia would likely expel Austrian diplomats as a retaliatory measure, following a similar incident in Hungary where ten Russian diplomats were expelled.