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Austrian top diplomat explains why his country does not expel Russian diplomats

According to the diplomat, Vienna houses the headquarters of numerous international organizations, where Russian diplomats are working

VIENNA, April 6. /TASS/. Austria will start expelling Russian diplomats if the republic’s special services obtain sufficient evidence of them violating provisions of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said, commenting on expulsion of Russian diplomats by several EU states amid the Russian special military operation in Ukraine.

"I certainly reserve the right for this move. I became the first foreign minister of Austria to declare a Russian diplomat persona non grata. I will do this again, if necessary. We are working closely with Austrian special services," Schallenberg said in an interview with ORF2.

According to the diplomat, Vienna houses the headquarters of numerous international organizations, where Russian diplomats are working, and Austria does not want to obstruct the work of those organizations.

"But when it is necessary, if it is proven, when there is firm evidence that a diplomat of some Russian mission does not meet the requirements of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations, then I will take concrete measures," the minister said.

He lamented the lack of a unified EU response in the matter.

The foreign minister also warned that a possible unjustified expulsion of diplomats from Austria may trigger retaliatory measures, and the Austrian diplomatic mission in Moscow would be unable to continue its work.

"If there is a response from Russia, then, in fact, the Austrian embassy will be forced to close its doors, and it will be of no good for everyone," he explained.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an early morning televised address that he had launched a special military operation in Ukraine in response to a request for help from the leaders of the Donbass republics. He stressed that Moscow had no intention of occupying Ukrainian territories, the sole purpose of the operation, the leader stressed, is the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine.

The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and some other countries responded by imposing sanctions on Russian individuals and companies.

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