Russia Expels Hungarian Diplomat

Local Editor

Hungary was among those countries, which decided to join the UK in expulsion of Russian diplomats later than others, that's why Moscow reserved the right to respond to Hungary's actions over Skripal poisoning.

Russia has declared one Hungarian diplomat persona non grata in response to the country's hostile move towards Moscow in connection with the poisoning of ex-Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter on British soil.

After the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Hungarian Ambassador Janos Balla, it said in the statement that "a note of protest was handed to him [the Ambassador] and he was informed that in response to Hungary's unfriendly and unreasonable order to expel a Russian diplomat on the basis of the UK's unproven accusations against Russia over the so-called Skripal case, the Russian side declares an employee of the Hungarian embassy a persona non grata."

On March 30, Russia announced expulsion of Western states' diplomats in tit-for-tat after the UK and a number of European countries, as well as the US, Canada and Australia expelled Russian diplomatic staff. However, the actions of four countries, including Montenegro, Belgium, Hungary and Georgia, were left unanswered by Moscow, as they announced the anti-Russian punitive measures at the last moment. Subsequently, one employee of Montenegro's embassy in Russia was expelled by Moscow, whereas Belgium and Georgia are still waiting for the Russian Ministry's decision.

London expelled 23 Russian diplomats alongside other anti-Russian measures citing the alleged Moscow's involvement in Skripal's poisoning, prompting Moscow to take retaliatory steps and remove British diplomats. A number of European countries, as well as the US, Canada and Australia expressed their solidarity with the UK and followed London's lead to expel Russian diplomatic staff.

On March 4, Sergei Skripal, ex-Russian intelligence officer convicted in Russia for espionage in favor of the UK, and his daughter Julia were exposed to what London says was a nerve agent A-234. The UK without any sound proof accused Moscow of being behind the incident, although the investigation into the poisoning has just started and is due to take months. The Russian side categorically rejected all the speculations.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team