Hungary will expel 10 Russian diplomats over activities deemed incompatible with diplomatic status under the Vienna Convention, Foreign Minister Anita Orban announced on September 8, describing the move as a measure to protect Hungary's national security and sovereignty. Hungary has called on the diplomats to leave the country immediately.

Orban said in a Facebook post the move does not mean diplomatic ties between the two countries have been severed, and that Budapest wishes to maintain necessary dialogue while preserving mutual respect and adhering to regulations, she added.

Speaking in Parliament, Prime Minister Peter Magyar read out the Foreign Ministry's statement, adding that, unlike the previous cabinet, the Tisza government will not tolerate anyone jeopardising Hungary's sovereignty, freedom, or independence, and will protect the country's independence and sovereignty by diplomatic means if necessary, 444.hu reported.

Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, said the response to the expulsion would be "tough and painful for the Russophobe lobby in Budapest." Asked when the response was to be expected, she said, "you will know" in time.

Andras Racz, the deputy head of the Hungarian Foreign Affairs Institute and an expert on Russia, said the Foreign Minister's diplomatically worded announcement suggested that the Russian diplomats were actually secret agents.

In an interview with MTI, Racz said that since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, EU countries have expelled over 600 Russian agents working under cover of diplomatic positions.

"In that sense ... Hungary in fact joins its EU allies in their efforts to reduce the Russian Federation's secret service capacities in EU and Nato countries," he added.

The Fidesz parliamentary group dismissed the move as a "diversion", while the Christian Democrats (KDNP) warned the move could have unforeseeable consequences. It suggested that the move might trigger an economic backlash. Fidesz-leaning media and experts warned that Moscow could cut gas supplies to Hungary in retaliation.

Analysts said the decision marks a clear break from Viktor Orban's pro-Russian stance. 

On Facebook, former ambassador Istvan Szentivanyi, the deputy president of the Hungarian Atlantic Council, described the decision as a long-overdue measure against Russian intelligence activity in Hungary. Citing data from investigative journalists such as Szabolcs Panyi, he said that roughly half of the staff at the Russian Embassy in Budapest were believed to engage in intelligence activities.

The Budapest embassy had reportedly had the largest Russian diplomatic staff among EU member states. While most EU countries expelled a large number of Russian diplomats after February 2022, Budapest was reluctant to take similar action. According to reports, over 50 diplomats were working in the country, twice as many as in Poland.

Szentivanyi said the latest decision sends a clear signal about the new government's assessment of the security threat posed by Russia. He added that the move was consistent with guidelines prepared for the upcoming UN General Assembly session, reflecting Hungary's position that Russia's expansionist ambitions should be regarded as a security threat.

Earlier this week, Anita Orban expressed deep concern over the growing number and intensity of Russian hybrid operations in Europe and reaffirmed Hungary's readiness to cooperate in countering such threats. She also expressed solidarity with Germany and called for coordinated EU and Nato action. 

Szabolcs Panyi, who is set to release a book on Russian influence in Hungary, also said that expelling Russian diplomats was long overdue, saying Budapest had been used as a logistical or operational base for Russian intelligence activities elsewhere in the Schengen area over the years.

He notes that Hungary's counter-intelligence prepared a list of more than a dozen Russian intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover for possible expulsion, but Viktor Orban allegedly rejected the proposed measures after Russia attacked Ukraine.

Nevertheless, over the past few years, Hungary has quietly expelled several Russian intelligence officers, including SVR officer Artur Szuskov in May 2026 and GRU officer Andrei Tarakanov in June 2024. Tarakanov was reportedly involved in Russian influence operations targeting other EU member states. 

Under pressure from Washington, Budapest quit the International Investment Bank (IIB) in April 2023 after US sanctions on the Budapest-based, Russia-controlled development bank.  Washington called the institution an "opaque Kremlin platform.

Panyi said the latest expulsions mean a significant tightening of Hungary's counter-intelligence stance toward Russia and signals that the new cabinet is working to close a vulnerability gap that had existed within the EU and Nato security framework.

According to data from the Russian investigative outlet Agentstvo, 15 of the 47 diplomats serving in Budapest have documented links to Russian intelligence services, while links were considered likely in six other cases. There are reportedly around 15 diplomats at the Hungarian Embassy in Moscow, Hvg.hu adds. Hungarian blog Vastagbor, citing Russian investigative sources, named the diplomats by name and rank.