Moscow announced the expulsion of two Dutch diplomats in response to Amsterdam's similar move in late 2020.

"We decided to expel two diplomats from the Dutch embassy in Moscow on the principle of reciprocity, in response to the Dutch decision of provocation last year," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also summons Dutch interim attorneys Joost Reintjes, announcing that the two deported will have to leave Russia within the next two weeks.

The Dutch Agency for Security and Intelligence (AIVD) in December 2020 said the country had expelled two Russian diplomats accused of spying in the high-tech sector.

Moscow said the charges were "unfounded and slanderous".

Russia-Netherlands relations have been strained since Malaysia Airlines' MH17 plane was shot down over Ukraine while flying from Amsterdam to Kualar Lumper in 2014. The Netherlands believes Russia is responsible for the tragedy

The Netherlands in 2018 expelled four Russians suspected of spying after allegedly attacking the Chemical Weapons Prohibition Organization in the Hague.