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Dutch police arrests suspect in breaking Russian diplomat’s apartment in The Hague

Robbing most likely coincidental, Dutch Foreign Minister says
Photo EPA/PHIL NIJHUIS
Photo EPA/PHIL NIJHUIS

THE HAGUE, October 24 (Itar-Tass) - Dutch police has said a suspect, who broke an apartment of an employee of the Russian Embassy in The Hague on October 17, has been arrested.

Law enforcers say the apartment was broken into by a 43-year-old repeat offender, who “is well-known to police by committing such crimes”. He is expected to face to go to trial on October 25.

The incident occurred at Banstraat Street on October 17. The building has no diplomatic status, apartments are being rented for the embassy’s employees. The criminal entered the apartment building through the front door. He stole some of the personal belongings of the employees of the Russian embassy.

The suspect was identified the next day. Dutch Foreign Minister Franz Timmermans supposed that the incident had nothing to do with the recent events which happened to Russian and Dutch diplomats and the resulting tension between the two nations. “It’s probably just a coincidence,” the official said.

Borodin incident

The series of incidents began October 6, when Russian diplomat Dmitry Borodin was assaulted by Dutch police officers in his apartment in The Hague. Four people in police uniform has entered his apartment, claiming they need to give him information pertaining to a traffic incident with his wife. When Borodin let the police officers in, he was accused of child abuse.

The diplomat was hit on the head with a police baton, handcuffed and transported to a police station. His children were taken there as well. Around 3am Borodin and his children were let go without an explanation. The official statement was made October 9. The Netherlands has issued an official apology to the Russian Federation over the incident. At the same time, Franz Timmermans said that police officers who were at the scene will not face disciplinary measures.

Dutch diplomat beating

On Tuesday evening, October 15, unidentified individuals pushed 60-year Onno Elderenbosch, who works as the Dutch ambassador's aide, into his apartment on Moscow’s Povarskaya Street, floored him, binded him with scotch tape, trashed the apartment and disappeared. Bodily injuries were reported to have been slight. Culprits have not been identified yet.