The transfer comes after a gaggle of EU nations expelled dozens of Russian diplomats this week over Ukraine.
Austria has ordered the expulsion of 4 Russian diplomats for behaviour incompatible with their diplomatic standing, in keeping with a spokeswoman for Minister of Overseas Affairs Alexander Schallenberg.
The three diplomats working at Russia’s embassy in Vienna and a Russian consulate based mostly in Salzburg should depart Austria by Tuesday, the international minister’s spokeswoman stated on Thursday.
The transfer got here after a gaggle of European Union nations took comparable motion this week, however not like most of them, Austria didn’t say the expulsions had been due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“The (4) folks have acted in a manner that’s inconsistent with their diplomatic standing,” the spokeswoman stated in a brief assertion, utilizing a phrase that often refers to spying.
Sweden, Denmark, Greece and Romania are among the many EU nations which have introduced this week they’re expelling Russian diplomats over the struggle in Ukraine.
The strikes got here shortly after pictures of what seemed to be civilian our bodies strewn within the streets of the Ukrainian city of Bucha prompted worldwide outrage.
Whereas some EU nations have expelled dozens of Russian diplomats, Austria is declaring “personae non gratae” solely a tiny fraction of the Russian diplomats based mostly on its soil.
Austria hosts an unusually giant contingent of Russian diplomats as a result of Vienna is house to the Group for Safety and Cooperation in Europe and to a United Nations centre that features UN companies such because the Worldwide Atomic Power Company and the UN Workplace on Medication and Crime.
Bigger nations, together with Russia, have three ambassadors in Vienna – one to Austria and one every to the UN organisations and the OSCE.
Austria’s international ministry lists 65 diplomats as working on the Russian embassy. That doesn’t embody dozens of others working on the missions to the UN in Vienna and to the OSCE.
General, about 160 Russian diplomats and technical employees are accredited in Austria.