MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Austrian Ambassador to Russia Werner Almhofer was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday over Vienna's declaration of four Russian diplomats personae non gratae, Moscow is expelling four employees of the Austrian Embassy.

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Reported by|ANNA sam
world section CJ journalist
16 Feb. 2023

     

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        On Thursday over to Austria's declaration of dismissing four Russian diplomats, Moscow summoned Austrian Ambassador to Russia Werner Almhofer to the Russian Foreign Ministry to discuss the decision, though Moscow also was expelling four employees of the Austrian Embassy before.

"As a retaliatory measure, four employees of the Austrian Embassy in Russia have been declared 'personae non gratae.' They must leave the country by February 23," the statement read.

Moscow also said that the difficulties with visa issuance for official Russian delegations traveling to Vienna to participate in multilateral events contradict Austria's obligations as a host country.

"This situation will also have consequences," the ministry concluded.
In early February, the Austrian Foreign Ministry said two diplomats of the Russian Embassy and two diplomats of the Russian Permanent Mission to the United Nations were declared personae non gratae due to "acts incompatible with their diplomatic status."