Austria expels 4 Russian diplomats over the Ukraine war

Austria announced Thursday the expulsion of four Russian diplomats, after similar decisions taken by other European countries since Monday, against the backdrop of the Russian attack on Ukraine.

A spokesman for the Austrian foreign ministers said in a statement, "The Austrian Foreign Ministry revokes the diplomatic status granted to three members of the Russian Embassy in Vienna and a member of the Russian Consulate General in Salzburg."

She added that "these people have committed acts incompatible with their diplomatic status and they are called to leave the territories on April 12 at the latest."

Several European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Slovenia and Greece, have expelled a large number of Russian diplomats since Monday.

The expulsions come at a time when Western countries expressed their anger after the bodies of dozens of civilians were found last weekend in Bucha, northwest of Kyiv, following the withdrawal of Russian forces from the city.

Russia has categorically denied any involvement, denouncing the "fabrication" of scenes of corpses by Ukraine, which, according to Moscow, seeks to discredit Russian soldiers.

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg refused at first to follow the example of his country's partners in the European Union, considering that the bloc should adopt a common position in this regard.

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