MOSCOW/BUDAPEST, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Russia will respond to the expulsion of the 10 diplomats, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement Tuesday on Hungary's expulsion of diplomats.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that "the response to the Russophobic lobby in Budapest will be tough and painful."
Earlier Tuesday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban announced that the country was expelling 10 staff members of the Russian embassy in Budapest due to their activities incompatible with diplomatic status.
"This decision protects Hungary's security and sovereignty. It does not imply breaking off diplomatic relations with Russia. Hungary intends to continue the necessary dialogue, based on mutual respect and adherence to the rules," Orban said in a post on X.
"We will not tolerate anybody jeopardizing Hungary's sovereignty," Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said in parliament Tuesday, commenting on the expulsion of the Russian diplomats, according to the Hungarian news agency MTI. ■