The Dutch government has ordered several Russian diplomats to leave the country, accusing Russia of trying to introduce spies posing as diplomats into the country. The Dutch government will also close its consulate in St. Petersburg
A number of Russian diplomats in the Netherlands were ordered by the government to leave the country. The Netherlands accuses Russia of trying to introduce spies into the country under the guise of diplomats. In addition, the Dutch government will close its consulate in St. Petersburg.
“Russia continues to try to secretly introduce intelligence agents into the Netherlands under the auspices of diplomacy. We cannot and will not allow this,” said Dutch Foreign Minister Wofke Hoekstra in a statement published yesterday.
He added: “At the same time, Russia refuses to give visas to Dutch diplomats who will work in the consulate in St. Petersburg or the embassy in Moscow.”
The minister continued: “Despite many attempts by the Netherlands to find a solution, Russia continues to try to bring intelligence officers into the Netherlands under diplomatic cover, but at the same time, it is important to keep the embassies open as a channel of communication, even now when relations with Russia are more difficult than ever.”
The Netherlands expelled 17 Russian intelligence officers in March 2022. In response, Russia expelled 15 Dutch diplomats. From that moment, negotiations were conducted to place new diplomats on both sides, but without success.
An unknown number of Russian diplomats will be forced to leave the Netherlands within two weeks. The Dutch government also ordered the closure of the Russian trade office in Amsterdam. Several countries, including France, Denmark and Austria, have expelled Russian diplomats over the past year, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, for “violations of diplomatic norms and accusations of espionage” for the Russian government.