The Dutch government has announced that it will close its Consulate General in St. Petersburg and the Russian trade office in Amsterdam, writes Politico.
On Sunday, the 19th of February, the Dutch government announced the expulsion of several Russian diplomats for repeated attempts to conduct intelligence activities in the Netherlands, using the diplomatic representation as a cover. The Netherlands also informed that on Tuesday, the 21st of February, it will close its consulate general in St. Petersburg and the Russian trade office in Amsterdam.
In March 2022, the Netherlands expelled 17 Russian diplomats on suspicion of espionage. Russia responded by expelling 15 Dutch diplomats.
The Dutch government said in a statement: «Negotiations with Russia over the terms of sending diplomats back and forth to diplomatic posts have so far come to nothing.
Russia keeps trying to surreptitiously place intelligence officers in the Netherlands as diplomats. At the same time, Russia refuses to issue visas for Dutch diplomats
to staff the consulate general in St. Petersburg and the embassy in Moscow.»
The Dutch government added that it is still essential to keep the embassies open and keep communication channels open, even now, when relations with Russia are very tense.
Russian diplomats have been given two weeks to leave the Netherlands. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that it would respond appropriately to the Dutch decision.
Read also: Russia to expel Estonian ambassador