The Russian state news agency TASS reported this on Thursday, according to Reuters. Retaliatory measures would be taken in due course, according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry.
According to TASS, the Russian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Vienna’s expulsion of two Russian diplomats. “The Austrian authorities have declared two diplomats from the Russian Embassy in Austria persona non grata for no reason. The Russian side strongly condemns this further unfriendly step by Vienna, for the consequences of which the Austrian authorities bear full responsibility,” the statement said.
As a spokeswoman for Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) told the APA on Wednesday evening, the two Russian diplomats “took actions that are incompatible with their diplomatic status.” This formulation is usually used when discussing intelligence activities.
