Austria's foreign ministry said on Thursday (February 2) that it expelled four Russian diplomats, including two accredited with the United Nations in Vienna. According to a statement, the diplomats have been asked to leave Austria within a week, i.e. by February 8. The foreign ministry said that two diplomats of the Russian embassy engaged in acts incompatible with their diplomatic status. "Therefore, they are declared personae non gratae under Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," the statement added.&nbsp;

On the other hand, two diplomats of the Russian Permanent Mission to the UN committed acts which were incompatible with the Headquarters Agreement and they would have to leave Austria, the foreign ministry statement further said.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/american-firm-offers-two-advanced-drones-to-ukraine-for-just-a-dollar-558181">American firm offers two advanced drones to Ukraine for just a dollar</a>

The ministry did not specify what any of these four diplomats had done. However, an official who wished to remain anonymous told news agency Reuters on Thursday that the case involved spying.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Statement of the Austrian Foreign Ministry on four Russian diplomats in Vienna <a href="https://t.co/LBmOMNzHeU">https://t.co/LBmOMNzHeU</a> <a href="https://t.co/W0hdqsbP97">pic.twitter.com/W0hdqsbP97</a>
— MFA Austria (@MFA_Austria) <a href="https://twitter.com/MFA_Austria/status/1621054531931934720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Diplomatic expulsions have been rare in Austria,&nbsp;which enjoyed close relations with Russia before its offensive in Ukraine&nbsp;that will soon complete one year.&nbsp;

In April last year, Austria had expelled four Russian diplomats as part of a coordinated European Union reaction after the discovery of alleged killings of Ukrainian civilians by Moscow in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, a report by news agency AFP on Thursday said.&nbsp;

And in 2020, a Russian diplomat accused of espionage was expelled. Since this year, Austria has expelled nine Russian diplomats.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-as-the-war-in-ukraine-rages-on-will-2023-be-the-year-of-defence-companies-556570">Explained: As the war in Ukraine rages on, will 2023 be the year of defence companies?</a>

Austria's capital city Vienna has been a major diplomatic centre that hosts the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and organisations of the UN including the International Atomic Energy Agency. Many large countries, including the United States and Russia, have separate ambassadors to Austria, the OSCE and the UN organisations, the Reuters report said.&nbsp;

Vienna also has a reputation for being a den of spies. The extensive diplomatic presence allows stationing intelligence agents there under a diplomatic cover, granting them diplomatic immunity, the report added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Austria's foreign ministry said on Thursday (February 2) that it expelled four Russian diplomats, including two accredited with the United Nations in Vienna. According to a statement, the diplomats have been asked to leave Austria within a week, i.

Austria's foreign ministry said on Thursday (February 2) that it expelled four Russian diplomats, including two accredited with the United Nations in Vienna. According to a statement, the diplomats have been asked to leave Austria within a week, i.e. by February 8. The foreign ministry said that two diplomats of the Russian embassy engaged in acts incompatible with their diplomatic status. "Therefore, they are declared personae non gratae under Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," the statement added. On the other hand, two diplomats of the Russian Permanent Mission to the UN committed acts which were incompatible with the Headquarters Agreement and they would have to leave Austria, the foreign ministry statement further said. ALSO READ | American firm offers two advanced drones to Ukraine for just a dollar The ministry did not specify what any of these four diplomats had done. However, an official who wished to remain anonymous told news agency Reuters on Thursday that the case involved spying. Statement of the Austrian Foreign Ministry on four Russian diplomats in Vienna https://t.co/LBmOMNzHeU pic.twitter.com/W0hdqsbP97 — MFA Austria (@MFA_Austria) February 2, 2023 × Diplomatic expulsions have been rare in Austria, which enjoyed close relations with Russia before its offensive in Ukraine that will soon complete one year. In April last year, Austria had expelled four Russian diplomats as part of a coordinated European Union reaction after the discovery of alleged killings of Ukrainian civilians by Moscow in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, a report by news agency AFP on Thursday said. And in 2020, a Russian diplomat accused of espionage was expelled. Since this year, Austria has expelled nine Russian diplomats. ALSO READ | Explained: As the war in Ukraine rages on, will 2023 be the year of defence companies? Austria's capital city Vienna has been a major diplomatic centre that hosts the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and organisations of the UN including the International Atomic Energy Agency. Many large countries, including the United States and Russia, have separate ambassadors to Austria, the OSCE and the UN organisations, the Reuters report said. Vienna also has a reputation for being a den of spies. The extensive diplomatic presence allows stationing intelligence agents there under a diplomatic cover, granting them diplomatic immunity, the report added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Austria expels four Russian diplomats, asks them to leave within a week

austria-expels-russian-diplomats

Austria Expels Russian Diplomats, News on Austria Expels Russian Diplomats, stories on Austria Expels Russian Diplomats, articles on Austria Expels Russian Diplomats, Austria Expels Russian Diplomats stories at Wion, Austria Expels Russian Diplomats news, Austria Expels Russian Diplomats latest news

austria expels-russian-diplomats

Austria expels four Russian diplomats, asks them to leave within a week