Russia closes down consular services in the Netherlands after expelling embassy employees

On Sunday, the Russian Embassy in the Netherlands announced restrictions on the provision of consular services after the decision of the Dutch authorities to expel some employees of the diplomatic mission on suspicion of espionage. Source: it is stated in the message of the Russian Embassy, writes European Pravda "Due to the decision of the Dutch authorities to reduce the staff of the Russian Embassy in The Hague, starting from 20 February 2023, visitors will not be accepted according to previously issued records (except for issuing passports)," the Russian Embassy in The Hague notes.

They add that the Consular Department will not accept applications for pension issues and registration of certificates for return to Russia without an appointment.

"We regret the temporary inconvenience caused by the unfriendly actions of the Dutch authorities," the Russian diplomatic mission said in a statement. The day before it became known that the Netherlands decided to reduce the number of diplomats in the Russian Embassy through repeated attempts to employ intelligence officers in the diplomatic mission. Russian diplomats who cannot stay must leave the Netherlands within two weeks.

The Russian trade representative office in Amsterdam should be closed on 21 February. The Consulate General of the Netherlands in St. Petersburg will close on 20 February.

This means that, among other things, assistance to Dutch citizens and organisations will no longer be provided by St. Petersburg. The Dutch Embassy in Moscow will remain open.

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After the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Netherlands expelled 17 Russian intelligence officers in March 2022. In response, Russia expelled 15 Dutch diplomats. Since then, negotiations have been underway to deploy new diplomats on both sides.

On Friday, the Dutch ambassador was summoned by the Russian Foreign Ministry due to an investigation that suggested that the decision to supply the Buk anti-aircraft missile system to the fighters of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" was made by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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