Espionage: 3 Russian diplomats expelled from Austria, 14 in total since 2020

Austria expelled three Russian diplomats on May 4 due to alleged espionage activities, bringing the total number of Russian diplomats expelled since 2020 to fourteen. Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger stated that using diplomatic immunity for espionage is unacceptable. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, 670 Russian diplomats have been expelled by Western countries, while Russia has retaliated by sending back 346 foreign envoys.