FT: EU agrees to restrict travel of Russian diplomats as Hungary lifts veto

EU member states have agreed to impose restrictions on the movement of Russian diplomats within the European Union in response to the growing number of sabotage attempts often led by spies operating under diplomatic cover.

As reported by Financial Times, under the proposed rules, Russian diplomats based in EU capitals will be required to notify other governments of their travel plans before crossing the borders of the country in which they are accredited.

This initiative, promoted by Czechia, is part of a new package of sanctions being prepared in Brussels in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The sanctions package requires unanimous support from all member states. According to two people familiar with the negotiations, Hungary – the last country opposing the measure – has lifted its veto.

EU intelligence services report that Russian spies posing as diplomats often oversee networks or operations outside the countries where they are officially accredited in order to avoid surveillance by counterintelligence services.

The Czech government has been pushing for such restrictions since May last year. Prague has already banned entry to several Russian diplomats suspected of espionage. However, hundreds of Russian diplomats remain accredited in neighbouring Austria and can legally cross the border into Czechia.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský stated that the restrictions are necessary to restore the principle of reciprocity. "It makes no sense for a Russian diplomat accredited in Spain to be able to come to Prague whenever they want. We must apply strict reciprocity in issuing short-term diplomatic visas in accordance with the Vienna Convention," Lipavský told the outlet.

On 30 September, the Czech government approved a decision to ban entry to Russian diplomats and holders of service passports who do not have national accreditation from Prague.

However, legal approval of the new sanctions package may be delayed due to a dispute related to Austria's proposal to include a provision lifting sanctions on assets linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska in order to offset losses sustained by Austrian bank Raiffeisen in Russia.

Officials said that ambassadors from at least twelve other capitals stated last week that they would not support the package if the Austrian proposal were included. Further talks are scheduled for Wednesday.