Moscow’s Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky said on November 7 that Vienna’s recent expulsion of four Russian diplomats would trigger a proportionate, but painful response from Russia, according to TASS coverage.
The warning came a week after Austria declared the diplomats persona non grata on October 23, ordering them to leave the country. The Austrian Foreign Ministry explained that the expulsions were carried out “for security reasons,” a statement reported by the DPA news agency and echoed in a post on Bluesky by the account @bigearthdata.ai.
Lyubinsky’s remarks were part of a broader statement in which he insisted that any “unfriendly actions” by Austrian authorities would not go unanswered. He emphasized that Moscow’s measures would be “equivalent” to Austria’s and would, in his words, “inevitably be painful for Vienna.”
"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 said, according to the TASS report.
The timing of the statement reflects a pattern of tit‑for‑tat diplomatic exchanges that have intensified over the past year. Analysts note that Russia has previously invoked reciprocal expulsions in response to similar actions by other European capitals.
Because Vienna’s decision was framed as a security measure, Austrian officials hold that the expulsion of Russian diplomats was a defensive act aimed at protecting their national interests.
International diplomatic observers pointed out that the expulsion of foreign diplomats is a rare and provocative step, usually reserved for situations involving espionage or hostile intelligence activities. The incident falls within that context, triggering a sharply worded reply from Moscow.
There is no official record yet of any concrete step taken by Russia beyond the threat of a diplomatic counter‑action. The next development will likely depend on how quickly Vienna responds and whether it attempts to negotiate a compromise.
Commentators suggest that while Russia’s language signals resolve, it also leaves room for further dialogue. The emphasis on a “proportionate” response hints at a potential back‑and‑forth that could avoid open escalation if Vienna moderates its stance.
Meanwhile, the Austrian Foreign Ministry has reiterated that the decision to expel the diplomats remains “in the national interest” and that it will assess any further aggressive measures accordingly.
