MOSCOW, October 17 (Itar-Tass) - The latest incidents involving Russian and Dutch diplomats will not hamper relations between both countries, Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.
“Such incidents occur rather often,” the diplomat said.
“Overall, our political dialogue with the Netherlands is very high. We hope that despite temporary difficulties the dialogue will be intensified. We’ll be able to take the decisions, which don’t allow us to hamper political and economic relations,” he said.
Russia “exposed its position. As for the latest case, Russia expressed its sincere regret”, Lukashevich said, adding, “The Netherlands’ reaction to the incident in Moscow is rather adequate. There are no attempts to play this fact.”
On Tuesday evening, October 15, unidentified individuals pushed the Dutch national, who works as the Dutch ambassador's aide, into his apartment on Moscow’s Povarskaya Street, floored a man, trussed him up with scotch tape, trashed the apartment and disappeared. Bodily injuries are reported to have been slight and the Embassy staff member is feeling normally now.
Investigative actions are underway to establish the circumstances of the crime and individuals involved in it.
Incident involving Russian diplomat in The Hague
However, Russia is dissatisfied with the Netherlands’ reaction to the incident involved a Russian diplomat, Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.
“We’ve not gotten the reaction from the Netherlands. I mean the measures to punish those who are responsible for the incident involved a Russian diplomat,” Lukashevich said.
“The Netherlands conducted an investigation and Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans apologized due to the violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” the diplomat said, adding, “This is not the final point and we’re dissatisfied with the situation.”
“Those who are guilty of the attack on Russian diplomat Dmitry Borodin should be punished. Material and moral damage should be indemnified. We hope that all explanations will be given at today’s meeting between Russian Ambassador Roman Kolodkin and the director of the protocol department,” Lukashevich said.
October 6, Minister-Counsellor of the Russian Embassy in the Netherlands Dmitry Borodin was attacked in his flat in The Hague.
People in police uniform called up to him in his flat ‘under the false pretext’ overnight to Sunday. Borodin noted that they had not produced any identity cards that verify they were policemen.
“They said that the neighbours had allegedly informed about bad attitude to children in this flat. I have two children - a four-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son,” the diplomat said. Borodin noted that he warned the offenders about his diplomatic status and tried to prevent them from breaking in the flat. However, the attackers have brought him on the floor and have put handcuffs on him. “I was also hit by a stick on the head,” he noted.
Russian top officials expressed their concern over this incident. Russia's embassy to the Netherlands issued a statement as well: "The unacceptable treatment of police officers towards the diplomatic agent is a harsh violation of international law, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations."
October 9 Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans offered apologies to Russia over the incident with Russian diplomat Dmitry Borodin.