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Dutch foreign minister offers apologies to Russia over beating of Russian diplomat

Foreign Ministry admits to violating Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations

Photo EPA/LEX VAN LIESHOUT

Photo EPA/LEX VAN LIESHOUT

THE HAGUE, October 9 (Itar-Tass) - Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans offered apologies to Russia over the incident with Russian diplomat Dmitry Borodin.

This event took place at a personal meeting between Timmermans and Russian Ambassador in the Netherlands Roman Kolodkin, who was invited to the Dutch Foreign Ministry, spokesman of the Dutch Foreign Ministry Thijs van Son told Itar-Tass on Wednesday.

The Dutch foreign minister has studied the information, which he had received from the police and had come to conclusion that “the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations was, indeed, violated,” Thijs van Son noted.

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."

Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

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Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 19th

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