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Seventeen Russian diplomats to leave Netherlands — Dutch intelligence service

It was earlier reported that about 10 people would be affected

THE HAGUE, February 20. /TASS/. Seventeen Russian diplomats will have to leave the Netherlands following the Dutch decision to equalize the number of diplomats working in two countries, Jan Swillens, the head of the Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service said on Monday, the Netherlands television and radio corporation reported.

It was earlier reported that about 10 people would be affected. However, Swillens is now talking about 17 diplomats. He also asserted that the Netherlands "stopped taking in people that are known to be [Russian] intelligence service agents."

The Dutch Foreign Ministry on Saturday said it was restricting the number of Russian diplomats allowed to work in the country. The rest of the diplomats were given two weeks to leave the country. According to the Dutch cabinet, the Russian embassy in the Hague may employ no more diplomats than the Dutch embassy in Moscow. In addition, the Dutch government ordered the trade mission in Amsterdam to shut down.