Vienna systematically delays visas for Russian diplomats, says envoy

Austria is discriminating against Russian diplomats and administrative staff at Russia’s Permanent Mission to International Organisations in Vienna when issuing entry visas, Russian envoy Mikhail Ulyanov said.

Ulyanov, who serves as Russia’s Permanent Representative to International Organisations in Vienna, claimed that by systematically delaying the processing of entry documents, Vienna is violating its obligations to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Russian media reports.

According to the Russian envoy, the actions are deliberate.

“In recent years, Austria has consistently and deliberately made it difficult for staff of Russia’s Permanent Mission to International Organisations in Vienna to obtain Austrian entry visas,” the diplomat said during the 70th session of the IAEA General Conference.

At present, 26 people are awaiting entry permits, accounting for more than a quarter of the Russian diplomatic mission’s entire staff. Ulyanov noted that six specialists submitted their applications as early as 2025, with the longest wait dating back to January 15 of last year.

By Jeyhun Aghazada