Nehammer also stated that Austria’s neutrality was “forced on” by Soviet communists after the Second World War. In this context, however, the Foreign Office would like to point out that the state treaty with the Allies in 1955 was only possible because of the liberation by the Red Army. “The liberation of the territory of this country (Austria, note) came at a high price – more than 26,000 soldiers died,” it said.
At the same time, Moscow also criticized Foreign Minister Schallenberg, who at the press conference on March 1 had made “absurd accusations” against Russia, including the accusation that he had destroyed the pan-European security architecture.
“We firmly condemn such unfounded statements and assessments,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said. This would raise serious doubts about the quality of Vienna’s “neutrality,” which has been noticeably declining and eroding in recent times. This will be taken into account in the future, the statement concluded.
Austria’s “red line”
Austria’s Foreign Ministry ruled on the short message service Twitter with a message posted in German and Russian: “Militarily speaking, Austria is a neutral state. But we are never politically neutral when it comes to respect for international law.”