Austria ordered four Russian diplomats to leave over espionage allegations, an Austrian official said on Friday.
The Foreign Ministry said three diplomats were based at Russia's embassy in Vienna and one at its OSCE mission. Declared personae non gratae for "activities incompatible with their diplomatic status," they were told to leave in coming days. No further details were provided.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky told media that "a reaction is unavoidable".
Vienna-host to OPEC, OSCE, IAEA, and UNODC-is considered a spying hotbed due to lenient laws penalizing foreign espionage only if targeting Austrian interests. The neutral EU member aids Ukraine non-militarily as reciprocal European-Russian expulsions continue post-Ukraine invasion.
In May, Austria expelled three embassy staff using building antennas to intercept international satellite data, media reported.
Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger's liberal Neos party advocated tougher stances. The government is negotiating legislation expanding punishment to espionage against international organizations.