January 18, 2021 - 6:54 AM
MOSCOW - Russia s Foreign Ministry on Monday announced the expulsion of two Dutch diplomats in a quid pro quo move.
In December, the Netherlands ordered two Russian diplomats out after the country s intelligence agency accused them of gathering intelligence information on semiconductors, nanotechnology and artificial intelligence.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said it summoned a Dutch envoy Monday to protest the âunfriendly and provocativeâ Dutch action, adding that the accusations against the Russian diplomats were âslanderous and unfounded.â It said that two Dutch diplomats were ordered to leave Moscow in two weeks âon the principle of reciprocity.â
Dutch Foreign Minster Stef Blok said in a statement that the diplomats âdid their work for the Netherlands in a professional and committed manner. They have now completely unjustly and through no fault of their own been expelled by Russia.â