Austria expels four Russian diplomats, Moscow vows response

• Three Russian Embassy staff and one Russian delegate at the OSCE were expelled.
• The expelled individuals engaged in activities incompatible with their diplomatic status.
• Austria has expelled 18 Russian diplomats since 2020.
• Russia's Foreign Ministry warned of an "inevitable" response.

Austria expelled four Russian diplomats on Oct. 23, citing security reasons and activities incompatible with their diplomatic status, according to the Austrian Foreign Ministry. The expelled individuals included three members of the Russian Embassy and one Russian delegate at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) involved in military security and arms control. Vienna, a host to major international institutions, has become a frequent target for Russian espionage. This latest action brings the total number of Russian diplomats expelled by Austria since 2020 to 18. Russia's Foreign Ministry warned of an "inevitable" response, as reported by the TASS news agency. Austria has previously expelled Russian diplomats in May over suspected intelligence activities. Despite its neutrality, Austria has aligned with international and EU sanctions against Russia and provides aid to Ukraine.