Hungary expels 10 Russian diplomats as relations worsen

Hungary’s new government has ordered ten Russian diplomats to leave Budapest, accusing them of “unacceptable” activities that threaten the nation’s security and sovereignty. The expulsion was announced by Foreign Minister Anita Orbán on social media, though she provided no specifics about the alleged misconduct. While the move does not sever diplomatic ties with Moscow, it marks a stark reversal from the country’s previous stance under Viktor Orbán, who had long been seen as the European Union’s most pro‑Kremlin ally. The decision follows a series of diplomatic escalations, including Orbán’s summons of the Russian ambassador in May after a large drone strike hit Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region, an area home to a significant Hungarian minority.

The expulsions reflect a broader shift in Budapest’s foreign policy since the Tisza party’s victory in April, when Prime Minister Péter Magyar pledged “pragmatic” relations with Russia but simultaneously called for an end to the war in Ukraine. New government guidelines now label Russia’s conduct in Ukraine as a threat to Hungary, Europe, and the global order, and warn that the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia faces serious danger. Prior to the election, investigative reporting suggested that a substantial portion of the Russian embassy staff in Budapest—15 out of 47—were linked to Russian intelligence, with additional personnel possibly involved. Former deputy head of Hungarian foreign intelligence András Telkes noted that earlier investigations into Russian espionage had been stymied by the former Fidesz administration, which also dismissed claims that Russian military intelligence officers had attempted to influence the Hungarian vote.

Russia’s response has been sharply critical, with Ambassador Evgeny Stanislavov describing the expulsions as an “unprecedented and ungrounded escalation” and warning of a “harsh and painful” reaction from the “Russophobic lobby.” He insisted that dialogue based on mutual respect must continue, even as Budapest’s leadership signals a firmer stance against Moscow. The episode joins a wider pattern across Europe, where hundreds of Russian diplomats have been expelled since 2022, prompting reciprocal measures from Russia. Telkes warned that a tit‑for‑tat expulsion of Hungarian diplomats from Moscow could effectively shut down Hungary’s embassy there, underscoring the potential for further diplomatic deterioration and the uncertain future of Hungary‑Russia relations.

⚡ Effects Interpreter