Russo-Austrian Convention of 1877

(Budapest Convention), a secret agreement between Russia and Austria-Hungary, signed on January 3 (15) in Budapest by the Russian ambassador E. P. Novikov and G. Andrássy, Austria-Hungary’s minister of foreign affairs.

The Russian government, which was preparing for war against Turkey, sought to guarantee the neutrality of Austria-Hungary. The Russo-Austrian Convention of 1877 stipulated that in the event of a Russo-Turkish war, Austria-Hungary would maintain an attitude of benevolent neutrality toward Russia. In compensation, Austria-Hungary was granted the right to choose a time and method of seizing Bosnia and Hercegovina by force. Both powers promised not to expand the sphere of their military operations—that is, Austria-Hungary would stay out of Rumania, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Montenegro, and Russia would not intervene in Bosnia, Hercegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro.

A supplementary convention dealt with the possible consequences of a war, as well as with territorial acquisition by the two powers. By supplementary convention, Austria-Hungary would receive Bosnia and Hercegovina, with the exception of the sanjak of Novi Pazar, the territory located between Serbia and Montenegro. Russia would regain the part of Bessarabia that had belonged to the Russian Empire before 1856.