Hungary announced it will expel 10 Russian diplomats from the country. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the measure, responding with the expulsion of an equal number of Hungarian diplomats, in a gesture that Moscow's Ministry of Foreign Affairs described as a symmetric response.
Anita Orbán, Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs, justified the expulsion with behaviors "incompatible with diplomatic status" by the Russian agents. According to the minister, what was at stake were "activities unacceptable under the Vienna Convention", without specifying what those activities were.
Hungary and Russia maintained, over several years, a particularly close relationship, even after the invasion of Ukraine. Viktor Orbán, who was prime minister, maintained a close alliance with Moscow.
However, the political context in Hungary changed less than six months ago. Peter Magyar won the elections and was elected prime minister, leaving Viktor Orbán out of power. This change of government is believed to have been behind the alteration of Hungarian foreign policy towards Russia.
