Neutral Austria under pressure to be tougher with Russia

Neutral Austria has come under heavy criticism for granting visas to sanctioned Russian politicians for a meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in Vienna (Lisa Leutner/AP)

Austria has come under heavy criticism for granting visas that will allow sanctioned Russian politicians to attend a meeting in Vienna of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) in Europe.

The issue highlights the delicate balancing act the European country has engaged in while trying to maintain its longstanding position of military neutrality during the war in Ukraine.