Russian ambassador Shulgin on carpet at the Lower House: “Cross the road” | Interior

The committee then decided to cancel the trip, just as it did five years ago when MPs Servaes (PvdA) and Bontes (VNL) were not allowed to enter the country. The measure against Sjoerdsma is related to his critical attitude towards Russia on the MH17 file and the promotion of a European sanction regime against human rights violators, the so-called “Magnitsky legislation”. The punishment is also a response to EU sanctions against politicians and soldiers after the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. One of the Russian Duma members on the sanction list is Leonid Sloetski. He is not allowed to enter the EU due to involvement in the participation of Crimea.

Shulgin’s statement prior to the meeting with MPs was in line with Russia’s strategy to pay back with the same currency. “The Russian parliament is prepared to pass legislation that removes travel restrictions for all parliamentarians, no matter which country they come from, no matter what party they are from.” But, he added. “That must be a two-way street.”

The Sjoerdsma incident is once again a sign of the cool political relationship between the Netherlands and Russia. Blok called on the ambassador after the decision to refuse Sjoerdsma. Chamber President Arib sent an angry letter to the Duma, the Russian parliament. The MH17 process will start next month, in which three Russians and one Ukrainian are on trial. Moscow continues to deny that the Book rocket that brought down the civilian aircraft came from Russia.

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