• Hungary has expelled 10 Russian diplomats for unacceptable activities incompatible with their status.
• The Hungarian government aims to protect national security and sovereignty while maintaining dialogue with Russia.
• Moscow has threatened a "harsh and painful" retaliation against Hungary.
• The decision marks a shift from previous administrations that maintained close ties with Russia.
• This is the first expulsion of Russian diplomats from Hungary since 2018.

Hungary has officially ordered the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats, stating they engaged in activities deemed unacceptable for diplomats under the Vienna Convention. Foreign Minister Anita Orban emphasized this decision is a protective measure for Hungary’s national security and sovereignty. However, she reassured that Hungary does not intend to sever diplomatic ties with Russia and aims to continue necessary dialogue based on mutual respect, according to Le Monde, South China Morning Post, and India Times.

This action signifies a notable shift from the pro-Russian stance of former Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who had persistently upheld strong ties with Moscow, including continued purchases of Russian energy. Under the leadership of new Prime Minister Peter Magyar, Hungary’s government has stressed that its main alliances are with the EU and NATO, aiming to rebuild trust with its allies, as noted in South China Morning Post and India Times.

Moscow’s foreign ministry responded to the expulsions with threats of retaliation, describing the actions in Budapest as influenced by a "Russophobic lobby." Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the foreign ministry, highlighted that the response from Russia will be "harsh and painful," signaling a potentially significant diplomatic fallout, as reported by Le Monde and South China Morning Post.