According to Bloomberg report dated September 8th local time, the Hungarian government will expel 10 Russian diplomats accused of 'espionage activities'. This move indicates that there will be confrontation between Russia and the new Hungarian government.
On that day, Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban posted a message on social media platform Facebook, stating that Hungary had requested these Russian personnel to leave the country, and pointed out that their actions violated the provisions of the Geneva Convention, which regulates diplomatic activities.
This decision is aimed at maintaining the safety and sovereignty of Hungary. She added that Hungary hopes to maintain its diplomatic relations with Russia on the basis of "necessary dialogue, mutual respect, and adherence to rules."
Hungary's Foreign Minister Anita Ormand – Photo
Bloomberg noted that this decision by Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar marks a departure from the policies of his predecessor, Viktor Orbán. Orbán had close relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and these relations continued even after the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict.
In the past, Öhrberg was often criticized by some people. The alleged reasons given by these critics were that his government had an “excessive tolerance towards Russia” and allowed Hungary to become a base for Russian “espionage activities” within the EU and NATO. Currently, the Russian Embassy in Hungary remains one of the largest embassies in Central and Eastern Europe.
