In brief
On Oct. 23 Austria expelled four Russian diplomats, citing security concerns. In a statement to TASS, Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky warned that any unfriendly actions would trigger a proportionate and painful response from Moscow. The comments follow the Austrian foreign ministry’s public disclosure of the expulsion.
On November 7, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky told TASS that Vienna’s expulsion of four Russian diplomats would prompt a "proportionate, but painful" retaliation.
Russia warns Vienna of its response
The expulsion, announced by the Austrian foreign ministry on Oct. 23, cited security reasons for declaring the diplomats persona non grata and ordering them to leave the country.
"Any unfriendly actions by the Austrian authorities towards Russia have always received and will continue to receive a proportionate response from the Russian side. It will inevitably be painful for Vienna, but this is by no means our choice,"
Lyubinsky, speaking from Vienna, emphasized that the German-case measure would not be a choice, but a reaction to “unfriendly actions”.
While the Austrian statement plays the role of a factual confirmation, the Russian warning remains an official stance, not an action yet taken, leaving the broader diplomatic fallout unresolved.
