Austria in 'cold diplomatic war' with Russia over visas

Austria is locked in a "cold diplomatic war" with Russia, primarily over visa disputes, according to Austrian media reports. Dozens of visa applications for Russian diplomats and international organization staff seeking to enter Austria have been rejected, with officials citing national security concerns and suspicions of espionage.

The rejections have caused significant anger in Moscow. Russian Ambassador to Vienna Andrey Yurievich Grozov criticized the situation, urging Vienna to uphold its obligations. Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's permanent representative in Vienna, previously called Austria's visa policy for Russian diplomats "scandalous."

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The visa issue remains the most sensitive area, and we call on Vienna to respect its obligations.

In addition to visa rejections, Vienna has declared 15 Russian diplomats "persona non grata." The Austrian Foreign Ministry, state security, and intelligence services are reportedly involved in scrutinizing entry requests. Vienna's historical role as a bridge between East and West, and its status as a host city for numerous international organizations, has made it a long-standing hub for intelligence activities. Experts suggest Vienna's significance for Russian espionage has increased since the war in Ukraine began, and the diplomatic dispute is unlikely to resolve soon while the conflict continues.

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scandalous