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Netherlands expelled 4 Russians in April over allegedly targeting chemical weapons watchdog Netherlands expelled 4 Russians in April for allegedly targeting chemical weapons watchdog
(35 minutes later)
The Netherlands expelled four Russian intelligence officers in April, who allegedly targeted the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Dutch defense minister said. The Netherlands expelled four Russian intelligence officers in April, who allegedly targeted the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the Dutch defense minister said.
The operation was the work of Russian military intelligence agents GRU, Dutch Defense Minister Ank Bijleveld said during a media conference on Thursday. The minister insists that the Russian agents were targeting the Hague-based chemical weapons watchdog. Four Russian intelligence officers were expelled from the country in April, she added. The operation was the work of Russian military intelligence agents from the GRU, Dutch Defense Minister Ank Bijleveld said during a media conference on Thursday. The minister insists that the Russian agents were targeting the Hague-based chemical weapons watchdog. Four Russian intelligence officers were expelled from the country in April, she added.
According to the Dutch defense minister, the alleged operation was disrupted on April 13. The Russians had diplomatic passports, she said, adding that the men took photos of the surroundings of the organization in the Hague. According to Bijleveld, the alleged operation was disrupted on April 13. The Russians had diplomatic passports, she said, adding that the men had taken photos of the organization's surroundings in The Hague.
On April 13 they allegedly parked a car next to the office of the watchdog. Their vehicle contained high-profile equipement which was able to hack into the organization’s WIFI network. On April 13, they allegedly parked a car next to the office of the watchdog. Their vehicle contained high-tech equipment that was able to hack into the organization's WiFi network.
Dutch Major General Onno Eichelsheim who also spoke at the media conference, insists that the Russians “were not on vacation” and one of the men had 20,000 euros in cash. Dutch Major General Onno Eichelsheim, who also spoke at the media conference, insists that the Russians “were not on vacation” and one of the men had €20,000 ($23,000) in cash.
The Russian ambassador to the Netherlands has been summoned to the country’s foreign ministry, officials said. The Permanent Representation of Russia to OPCW declined to comment on Bijleveld’s statement to Russian media so far. The Russian ambassador to the Netherlands has been summoned to the country’s Foreign Ministry, officials said. The Permanent Representation of Russia to OPCW has so far declined to comment on Bijleveld’s statement to Russian media.
Britain's ambassador to the Netherlands Peter Wilson who was also present at the media conference said that the Russians also targeted UK Foreign Office and Porton Down Defence and Science Laboratory. ‘Rich imagination’
Wilson echoed the earlier statement from UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who claimed that  Russia’s GRU was responsible for “reckless and indiscriminate” acts in cyberspace across the globe. Britain's Ambassador to the Netherlands Peter Wilson, who was present at the media conference, said that the Russians also targeted the UK Foreign Office and Porton Down Defense and Science Laboratory.
Reacting to Hunt’s accusations, Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the allegations the product of someone with a “rich imagination.” Wilson echoed an earlier statement from UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who claimed that  Russia’s GRU was responsible for “reckless and indiscriminate” acts in cyberspace across the globe.
“It's some kind of a diabolical perfume cocktail (of allegations),” Zakharova told reporters on Thursday. Reacting to Hunt’s accusations, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the allegations the product of someone with a “rich imagination.”
“It's some kind of a diabolical perfume cocktail [of allegations],” Zakharova told reporters on Thursday.
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