The Netherlands has expelled two alleged Russian spies who were working in the country as diplomats, its intelligence service says.
They are accused of targeting the high-tech sector and building a «substantial network of sources» in the industry. The two individuals were working for Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Dutch officials said.
Russia described the accusations as «unfounded» and said the decision to expel its citizens was «provocative».
The expelled Russians were accredited diplomats working from the country’s embassy in The Hague, Dutch officials said on Thursday. They have been declared persona non grata and must now leave the Netherlands. Both were part of a «substantial espionage network» that was «recently rolled up», the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) said in a statement.