The Dutch government said on Saturday that "several" Russian diplomats will have to leave the Netherlands, accusing Moscow of trying to introduce spies into the country that is home to institutions including the International Criminal Court and the world's chemical weapons watchdog.
The announcement is the latest twist in a diplomatic spat between the two countries that began shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly a year ago sparked a war on Europe's eastern flank.
"Despite numerous attempts by the Netherlands to find a solution, Russia continues to try to bring intelligence officers into the Netherlands under diplomatic cover," Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said in a statement. "We cannot and will not allow that." He added that it remains "important to keep embassies open as a channel of communication, even now that relations with Russia are more difficult than ever."
Russian diplomats were given two weeks to leave the country. A Russian trade office in Amsterdam was ordered closed on Tuesday. In addition to accusing Russia of trying to plant spies in the Netherlands, the government said Moscow was refusing to grant Dutch diplomats visas to staff the Dutch consulate in St. Petersburg and the embassy in the Russian capital. The Dutch consulate general in Saint Petersburg will be closed from Monday.
Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, the Dutch government expelled 17 Russian intelligence officers. Russia responded by expelling 15 diplomats from the Netherlands.
