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Austria expels three Russian diplomats over signals spying

By Thomson Reuters May 4, 2026 | 2:54 AM

VIENNA, May 4 (Reuters) – Austria declared three Russian ​diplomats personae ‌non gratae over an “antenna forest” on the rooves ‌of ​diplomatic buildings ⁠that could ⁠be used for spying, the government said on ​Monday.

“It is unacceptable that ⁠diplomatic immunity ⁠be used ​to commit espionage,” ​Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger ‌said in a statement confirming that the ⁠three diplomats had already left the country. ⁠It ‌brings to ⁠14 the ​number ‌of Russian ​diplomats Austria ⁠has expelled since 2020.

(Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Andrew ​Cawthorne)