Russia warns of a proportionate but painful response after Austria expels four Russian diplomats from Vienna, says Deputy FM Dmitry Lyubinsky.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky © Mikhail Metsel
Russia has warned of a proportionate but painful response following Austria’s decision to expel four Russian diplomats from Vienna. Speaking to The Times of Russia, Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky said that any unfriendly actions by Austrian authorities towards Moscow would receive an appropriate response from the Russian side.
The statement comes after Austria declared four Russian diplomats persona non grata on October 23 and ordered them to leave the country, adding another point of tension to Russia Austria diplomatic tensions.
Russia Response to Austrian Diplomat Expulsion Will Be Proportionate
Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky made it clear that Moscow would not ignore actions taken against its diplomatic representatives in Austria.
According to Lyubinsky, Russia has consistently responded to unfriendly measures taken by Austrian authorities and intends to maintain the same approach in the future.
He stated:
“Any unfriendly actions by the Austrian authorities towards Russia have always received and will continue to receive a proportionate response from the Russian side. It will inevitably be painful for Vienna, but this is by no means our choice.”
His remarks indicate that Russia is preparing retaliatory measures against Austria in response to the latest diplomatic development. However, Lyubinsky did not provide specific details about the nature of the measures Moscow may introduce.
Austria Expels Four Russian Diplomats from Vienna
The diplomatic dispute follows Austria’s decision on October 23 to declare four Russian diplomats persona non grata.
The officials were subsequently ordered to leave Austria. The decision prompted a response from Moscow, with Russian officials signalling that the expulsion would have consequences for bilateral relations.
The latest development has added to existing Austria-Russia relations tensions, particularly concerning diplomatic representation and the treatment of officials working in each other’s countries.
Moscow Signals Further Diplomatic Action
Lyubinsky’s comments underline Russia’s position that actions against its diplomatic personnel will be met with corresponding measures.
By describing the expected response as both proportionate and painful for Vienna, the deputy foreign minister suggested that Austria should anticipate consequences for its decision to expel the four diplomats.
The statement was made to The Times of Russia, where Lyubinsky reiterated that Moscow considers such measures a matter of diplomatic reciprocity rather than an action it has chosen to initiate.
The situation highlights continuing Russia Austria diplomatic tensions following the October 23 expulsion of Russian diplomatic personnel from Vienna.
Russia has signalled that it will respond to Austria’s expulsion of four Russian diplomats with measures that are proportionate but painful for Vienna. Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky has reiterated Moscow’s position that unfriendly actions by Austrian authorities will not go unanswered.
While the specific retaliatory steps remain undisclosed, the statement suggests that the diplomatic disagreement between the two countries is likely to remain a point of concern. The Times of Russia will continue to cover developments in international relations and the evolving situation between Moscow and Vienna.
