FT has learned about the EU's plans to limit the travel of diplomats from the Russian Federation within the bloc

The European Union (EU) has agreed to limit the travel of Russian diplomats within the bloc, Hungary has lifted its veto on this initiative. This was reported on October 7 by the British newspaper Financial Times (FT).

"The proposed rules will oblige Russian diplomats working in EU capitals to inform the governments of other countries about their travel plans before leaving the country," the article says.

According to the newspaper, the initiative put forward by the Czech Republic is part of a new package of sanctions from the EU. Unanimous support is required for its adoption, and Hungary, the last country to oppose the measure, has withdrawn its veto, those briefed on the negotiations told the FT.

However, it is clarified that the decision may be postponed due to a dispute over Austria's demand to lift sanctions on assets allegedly linked to the Russian businessman. According to the newspaper's sources, the ambassadors of at least 12 EU countries said they would not support the package if Vienna's proposal was included in it.

In August, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said that Russian diplomats should be restricted in their free movement within the Schengen area. On September 30, the Czech government banned entry to the country for holders of diplomatic and official passports of the Russian Federation who are not accredited in the republic.

On September 29, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced that Russia would take retaliatory measures if the Czech Republic adopted restrictions on the freedom of movement of Russian diplomats at the initiative of the European Union. According to her, such "obsessive" ideas are born in the minds of European politicians, which they begin to "maniacally" promote to their own detriment.

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