Some press releases look formal on the surface, but inside they carry a full-blown drama.
This one from the Russian Foreign Ministry is exactly that.
What Happened?
Date: 1 October 2026, 12:30 PM
Release No: 1591-01-10-2026
On October 1st, the Charge d’Affaires of Hungary in the Russian Federation, Gabor Gergich, was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow.
Why? Because on September 8th, 2026, Hungarian authorities had made what Russia calls a “groundless and overtly unfriendly demand” – that a number of Russian diplomats leave the country.
In simple terms – Hungary expelled Russian diplomats first.
Russia’s Retaliation:
Russia did not take it lightly. It lodged a strong protest with the Hungarian diplomat.
And as a retaliatory measure, it ordered that a group of staff members from the Hungarian Embassy in Moscow, as well as the Hungarian Consulates General in St. Petersburg and Kazan, must leave the Russian Federation within two weeks.
Translation: You kicked out our people, now we are kicking out yours.
Why Does This Feel Like Drama Is Coming?
Because Hungary has always been the odd one out in the EU. Even while being in the EU and NATO, it kept its channels open with Russia – especially on energy.
So when even Hungary starts expelling Russian diplomats, it signals that something has shifted in Europe.
And Russia’s response is not symbolic. It didn’t just target the embassy in Moscow. It targeted consulates in St. Petersburg and Kazan too. That means it hit the entire Hungarian diplomatic network in Russia.
Two weeks to leave – in diplomatic terms, that’s very little time. Pack up and go.
What Happens Next?
These things rarely end with one press release. It’s always tit-for-tat. Hungary expels, Russia expels, then Hungary might expel again.
This is how diplomatic rows escalate – from a quiet summon to a full-blown standoff.
So this is not just about a few diplomats leaving. This press release feels like the opening scene of a bigger diplomatic drama between Russia and a country that was once seen as its friend inside the EU.
Source: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation – Press Release – 1 October 2026
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