Hungary expelled 10 Russian diplomats on Tuesday, saying they had acted in ways incompatible with their diplomatic status.
Those kicked out "were engaged in activities in Hungary that are unacceptable for diplomats under the Vienna Convention," Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban said in an emailed statement on Tuesday.
Hungary has "called on the individuals in question to leave" the country, Orban said. She added that the action "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, without giving details of what the mission staffers had allegedly done.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said it would retaliate for the expulsion of its diplomats.
