Lavrov calls distraction Dutch situation with Russian spies

MOSCOW, Oct 8 (PRIME) -- Deportation of the Russians allegedly trying to commit a cyberattack in the Hague was aimed at distracting attention on the eve of a meeting of NATO defense ministers, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday.

“I’d like to draw your attention to the fact that that was the day of this news conference and, if I remember it right, with a meeting of NATO defense ministers, which I think should be also kept in mind, if we’re talking about coincidences, direct or indirect,” Lavrov said after talks with his Italian colleague Moavero Milanesi.

“But there will also be a European Council meeting, where the E.U. heads of states and governments will deal with different matters as well… Probably, somebody thought that to dig out an April story and throw it into the public space now would distract attention from the crucial issues, which are discussed now in the E.U. and in NATO to some extent, including of the defense ratio between these two organizations.”

The Dutch Defense Ministry said on October 4 that it had aborted a hacker attack on the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which was allegedly orchestrated by four Russians, who were expelled from the European country in the middle of April.

Moscow denied all the accusations and said the anti-Russian spy campaign is ruining bilateral relations.

Lavrov also said that Dutch ambassador in Russia Renee Jones-Bos would be summoned on Monday to the Russian Foreign Ministry because of the disinformation campaign.

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