Putin demands apology for Russian diplomat beating in HagueOctober 8, 2013 - 14:06 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded an apology from the Netherlands over the alleged assault and forcible detention by police of a Russian diplomat in The Hague over the weekend, RIA Novosti reported. Russia has submitted a note of protest over the treatment of Dmitry Borodin, calling it a breach of diplomatic regulations. “This is a crude violation of the Vienna Convention. We await clarifications, apologies and the punishment of those guilty,” Putin said, speaking from Bali, where he is attending an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Specific details about the attack on Dmitry Borodin, a senior diplomat previously posted in Belgium, Luxembourg and several African countries, remain unclear. Russian state television Rossiya-24 reported that local police forced their way into Borodin’s apartment, assaulted him, and then held him at a police station for several hours without explanation. The spat marks another awkward turn in relations between Russia and the Netherlands, which have been tested by the seizure by Russian authorities of a Dutch-registered icebreaker belonging to Greenpeace, and the subsequent imprisonment of all the people on board. The Netherlands described the seizure of the ship on Saturday as illegal, and the Dutch government has said that it has initiated legal proceedings against Russia at the United Nations over the incident. Photo: www.rusembassy.nl Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |