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Russia expels four Austrian diplomats in retaliation — statement

On February 2, the Austrian Foreign Ministry said that four Russian diplomats accredited on Austrian territory were declared personae non gratae

MOSCOW, February 16. /TASS/. Russia retaliates by declaring four Austrian diplomats personae non gratae and ordering them to leave the country by the end of the day on February 23, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued on Thursday.

The ministry said that Austria's ambassador to Moscow, Werner Almhofer, was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday, where he was strongly protested over the expulsion of four Russian diplomats. "In retaliation, four employees of the Embassy of the Republic of Austria in the Russian Federation have been declared personae non gratae. They are to leave the country by the end of February 23, 2023. The ambassador has been handed a corresponding note," the statement said.

The ministry pointed out that the "unfriendly and unreasonable" step of Austria caused serious damage to bilateral relations, which were in crisis due to the actions of the Austrian side, as well as the international authority of the country, "previously positioning itself as an unbiased and neutral state and a platform for international diplomacy."

On February 2, the Austrian Foreign Ministry said that four Russian diplomats accredited on Austrian territory were declared personae non gratae. The Austrian ministry said that two diplomats of the Russian embassy allegedly "committed acts incompatible with their diplomatic status," and two diplomats from the Russian permanent mission to the UN "undertook actions incompatible with the headquarters’ agreement".

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