The Netherlands: Dutch Foreign Ministry annouced the expulsion of several Russian diplomats and the closure of Russia’s trade mission in Amsterdam.

The Dutch foreign ministry on Saturday announced the expulsion of several Russian diplomats and the closure of Russia’s trade mission in Amsterdam, accusing Moscow of using it for spying.

It was the latest development in a dispute over Russia’s failure to grant visas to Dutch diplomats to staff their embassy in Moscow and the consulate in Saint Petersburg.

Because of the lack of staff, the consulate will close on Monday, though the embassy will stay open, the statement added.

“Despite numerous attempts by the Netherlands to find a solution, Russia continues to try to get intelligence officers in the Netherlands under diplomatic cover,” Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said in the statement.

“We cannot and will not allow that.”

At the same time, it was important to keep embassies open as a communications channel even with relations with Russia so strained, he added.

The Russian diplomats being told to leave have two weeks to leave the country, while Russia’s trade mission in Amsterdam had to be closed from Tuesday, the statement said.

Hoekstra told Dutch broadcaster NOS that he expected around a dozen Russian diplomats would have to leave the country.

Read more at: https://www.macaubusiness.com/dutch-expel-russian-diplomats-close-trade-mission/

Turkey backs down on threat to expel foreign ambassadors - by Bethan McKernan

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has backed down from a threat to expel 10 ambassadors – including those from seven Nato allies – over their demands for the release of a prominent pro-democracy activist.

In comments on Monday Erdoğan said statements issued earlier in the day by the embassies in question, reaffirming that they will abide by a diplomatic convention not to interfere in a host country’s internal affairs, “show they have taken a step back from the slander against our country” and “they will be more careful now”.

The president’s communications director, Fahrettin Altun, added: “Our foreign ministry has already given the necessary response to these foreign missions and warned them about their unacceptable behavior,” in a statement on Twitter.

Read more at: Turkey backs down on threat to expel foreign ambassadors | Turkey | The Guardian

British-Russian Relations: Russia 'to expel 23 British diplomats' as political crisis deepens

Russia has announced it will expel 23 British diplomats and revoke permission for a British consulate in St Petersburg.

The British ambassador was alerted to the expulsions on Saturday morning.

The move is a response a similar expulsion by Britain, which has accused Russia of being behind the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury earlier this month.

Russia's ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko, said Britains response has been a "gross provocation" against Russia and the ensuing investigation is "absolutely un-transparent and it's secret."

He said: "Nobody has access. Have you seen photos of the Skripal in the hospital? Have you seen this?"

Read more: Russia 'to expel 23 British diplomats' as political crisis deepens | Euronews