Policy shift: Hungary expels ten staff from Russian embassy

Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán announced on Tuesday that ten employees of the Russian embassy in Budapest have been expelled from the country. According to the ministry's assessment, these representatives engaged in conduct that is not acceptable for diplomats under the Vienna Convention.

According to a ministry statement cited by news outlet "444," a senior Foreign Ministry official informed Russia's ambassador in Budapest of the decision and called on the individuals concerned to leave Hungary. Orbán stressed that the decision was made to protect Hungary's security and sovereignty, but does not mean severing diplomatic relations with Russia — Hungary still wishes to maintain necessary dialogue based on mutual respect and adherence to rules.

A shift after the elections

The expulsion is the latest sign that, since Péter Magyar came to power in spring, Hungary has been moving away from the strongly pro-Russian course pursued under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Previously, under Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, the ministry had maintained a friendly stance toward Russia, and unlike most other European countries — which expelled Russian diplomats over espionage allegations following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine — Hungary actually saw the number of Russian diplomats grow.

Szabolcs Panyi, author of a book on Russian influence, had earlier told "444" that Hungary had become a hub for Russian espionage, and that the country's security services could no longer properly carry out even their basic tasks.

New Prime Minister Péter Magyar has told parliament that, unlike the previous government, his Tisza party's administration will not tolerate threats to Hungary's sovereignty, freedom and independence, and that if necessary, the country's independence will also be defended by diplomatic means.