The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on September 30 that Russia would soon expel an Austrian diplomat in response to Austria¡¯s decision to announce a Russian diplomat as ¡°unpopular.¡±

The Russian media quoted an Austrian Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying that Austria had declared a Russian diplomat ¡°unpopular¡± and had left Austria.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that Russia has always responded to and reacted to such actions. Russia has informed Austria that it will expel an Austrian diplomat "on a reciprocal basis."