Austria expels 4 Russian envoys for breaching worldwide agreements

VIENNA (Reuters) – Austria is expelling 4 Russian diplomats for behaving in a way inconsistent with worldwide agreements, a motive typically invoked in spying circumstances, the Austrian International Ministry mentioned on Thursday with out giving specifics.

Two of the 4 diplomats declared personae non gratae and ordered to go away the nation by Feb. 8 on the newest are stationed on the Russian Embassy to Austria whereas, the opposite two work on the Russian mission to the United Nations in Vienna, the ministry mentioned in a press release.

“Two diplomats on the Russian embassy have acted in a way inconsistent with their diplomatic standing. They had been due to this fact declared unwelcome individuals (personae non gratae) in accordance with Article 9 of the Vienna Conference on Diplomatic Relations,” the ministry mentioned.

The 2 working on the Russian mission to the U.N. acted in a manner that was inconsistent with the host nation settlement between the United Nations and Austria, it added.

The ministry didn’t say particularly what any of the diplomats had finished, and a spokeswoman declined to remark.

Vienna is a serious diplomatic centre internet hosting each the Organisation for Safety and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and United Nations organisations such because the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company.

Bigger nations like Russia and the US typically have separate ambassadors to Austria, the OSCE and the U.N. organisations, every working an embassy or everlasting mission.

Town, which was divided into Allied sectors after World Struggle Two, additionally has a long-standing fame as a den of spies. The massive diplomatic presence presents the chance to station intelligence brokers there underneath a diplomatic cowl granting them diplomatic immunity.

(Reporting by Francois Murphy; Enhancing by Alison Williams and Hugh Lawson)