10-09-2013, 07:29 AM
In the Netherlands there is a kind of escalation of a conflict going on because a Russian diplomat in The Hague got arrested by police officers.
He is saying he got treated very bad and was hit, while the dutch say this didn't happen.
The police was called because the got called by neighbors that the guy (very drunk) was pulling his small kids in his apartment by the hair. The day before his wife apparently crashed against a few cars parked in the street with her car, while she was also intoxicated.
Vladimir Putin is really pissed and wants a official apology and that damages are paid.
I am really curious how this story will end.
What I hope for is that the concept of diplomatic immunity (something which was important in cold war times for example) is investigated to see if some changes can be made. The Russians for example apparently also have for a few 100 thousand euros of unpaid traffic fines standing out. Also the Chinese have this (legally they don't have to pay, but most countries such as the USA do pay the fines).
This particular case. Of course being Dutch I am not objective but I don't believe the Russians a single bit. In Russia it is pretty common that police officers mistreat suspects but in Holland we usually don't do this. And the family seems to be very fond of alcohol...
Of course the thing is that the Dutch (as a small country) have a lot of business interests in Russia....so an apology is also not unlikely.
He is saying he got treated very bad and was hit, while the dutch say this didn't happen.
The police was called because the got called by neighbors that the guy (very drunk) was pulling his small kids in his apartment by the hair. The day before his wife apparently crashed against a few cars parked in the street with her car, while she was also intoxicated.
Vladimir Putin is really pissed and wants a official apology and that damages are paid.
I am really curious how this story will end.
What I hope for is that the concept of diplomatic immunity (something which was important in cold war times for example) is investigated to see if some changes can be made. The Russians for example apparently also have for a few 100 thousand euros of unpaid traffic fines standing out. Also the Chinese have this (legally they don't have to pay, but most countries such as the USA do pay the fines).
This particular case. Of course being Dutch I am not objective but I don't believe the Russians a single bit. In Russia it is pretty common that police officers mistreat suspects but in Holland we usually don't do this. And the family seems to be very fond of alcohol...
Of course the thing is that the Dutch (as a small country) have a lot of business interests in Russia....so an apology is also not unlikely.