HAGUE: The Netherlands foreign ministry announced on Saturday the closure of Russia’s trade mission in Amsterdam and the expulsion of several Russian diplomats, accusing Moscow of using it for spying.
This was the latest development in a dispute over Moscow’s failure to grant visas to Dutch diplomats to staff their consulate in Saint Petersburg and their embassy in Moscow.
The statement added that due to the staff shortage, the Dutch consulate will close for public dealing on Monday, however, the embassy will remain open.
Russia continues efforts to get intelligence officers in the Netherlands
In a statement, the Netherlands Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said that despite several attempts to resolve the issue, Russia continues efforts to get intelligence officers in the Netherlands under diplomatic cover.
“We cannot allow that and we will not allow that.”
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At the same time, he added that keeping embassies open as a communications channel was essential even with strained relations with Russia.
The statement said that the Russian diplomats being told to leave the country within two weeks, while Russia’s trade mission in Amsterdam had been directed to be closed from Tuesday.
