The Netherlands said it stopped issuing visas to Russian citizens as of Wednesday after a series of tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions during Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The Dutch embassy in Moscow said Russian media still plans to issue humanitarian visas and temporary residence permits. The Netherlands is a member of the European Union and the Schengen visa area.

Dutch Ambassador to Russia Gilles Beschoor Plug in on Tuesday saying the embassy made the “tough and sad decision” to stop visa services after its entire visa section was expelled.

“I am convinced that traveling, learning and understanding the perspective of the other is very important to solve the crisis,” he tweeted.
Russia last week expelled 14 employees of the Dutch embassy in Moscow and one employee of the Dutch consulate in St. Petersburg.

Moscow said it acted in retaliation for The Hague’s expulsion of 17 Russian diplomats deemed “secretly active” as intelligence officers in late March.

Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dear that 28 Western countries have expelled some 400 Russian diplomats since Moscow invaded Ukraine on February 24.

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