Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland expel total of 42 Russian diplomats

By Ahmet Gencturk

ANKARA (AA) - The Netherlands announced Tuesday it decided to expel 17 Russian diplomats.

The government made the decision because of the national security threat posed by the diplomats who were secretly operating as intelligence officers, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said it is prepared for the various scenarios which might come from Russia as a consequence of the decision.

It also stressed that the decision was made in consultation with other countries that made similar decisions, including the US, Poland, the Baltic states, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Montenegro.

Similarly, Belgium’s Belga news agency reported that country decided to expel 21 Russian diplomats for alleged spying and posing threats to security.

And the Irish Foreign Ministry told local media that it asked four Russian diplomats to leave as their activities were not in line with international standards of diplomatic behavior.

​​​​​​​Russia’s war on Ukraine has met with international outrage, with the EU, US, and the UK, among others, implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.

At least 1,179 civilians have been killed in Ukraine and 1,860 injured, according to estimates by the UN, which noted the true figure is likely far higher.

More than 3.9 million Ukrainians have also fled to several European countries, with millions more displaced inside the country, according to the UN refugee agency.