Attack in Moscow of Dutch Diplomat Seems to be a Hate Gay Crime

A photo of Onno Elderenbosch, an aide to the Dutch ambassador to Russia, is displayed on a computer screen in Moscow.
                                                                                 Onno Elderenbosch, an aide to the Dutch ambassador to Russia
                  
  (RIA Novosti) – The United States on Wednesday strongly condemned the overnight attack on a senior Dutch diplomat in his Moscow apartment, and expressed concern about reports that the assault may have been an anti-gay crime.
“We call on the Russian authorities to thoroughly investigate this unacceptable attack and bring to justice those responsible,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters at a daily briefing.
“We are also disturbed by a reported anti-LGBT element” to the assault, Psaki said, adding that it was “crucial for the Russian government to ensure a climate of tolerance and reassure their own people and foreign visitors that Russia is a safe place for all.”
Unknown assailants on Tuesday evening forced their way into the central Moscow home of a diplomat identified by Russian officials as 60-year-old Onno Elderenbosch, an aide to the Dutch ambassador to Russia, pushed him to the floor and tied him up before ransacking the apartment, Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a statement.
Russian tabloid news website Life News reported that the attackers did not steal anything, but drew a large pink heart on a mirror and scrawled "LGBT" beneath it, suggesting a homophobic motive.
Russian authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the attack, and the foreign ministry in Moscow has expressed regret for the “deplorable incident,” which comes days after a Russian diplomat in the Netherlands was arrested by Dutch police after his neighbors reportedly accused him of mistreating his children.
Russian state television Rossiya-24 reported that Dutch police forced their way into the apartment of the Russian diplomat, who was identified as a deputy to the ambassador, assaulted him, and then held him at a police station for several hours without explanation.

Dutch Media:

Foreign minister Frans Timmermans has described the attack on a senior Dutch diplomat in Moscow as ‘serious’ and will have contact with his Russian counterpart later on Wednesday.
‘I want to know exactly what happened and what Russia is doing to find the culprits,’ Timmermans is quoted as saying by Nos television.
The minister will update parliament on the situation at the end of the afternoon or early evening, Timmermans said. MPs are due to debate the incident on Thursday after which ‘conclusions can be drawn about, for example, king Willem-Alexander’s trip to Russia’, Nos said.
The visit, to close a year-long celebration to mark 400 years of Dutch-Russian diplomatic relations, is due to take place on November 9.
Home
Russia has already said it regrets the attack on the Dutch embassy’s number two, Onno Elderenbosch. He was beaten at his home in Moscow by two men who forced their way into his house.

Russian media reports state the men drew a heart on a mirror with lipstick and the letters LGBT, which represents the words lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, Nos said.
According to RTL news, the men burst in after claiming to be electricians, knocked the diplomat to the ground and tied him up. Dutch activists have been highly criticial of anti-gay laws in Russia.
The Hague
The case comes 10 days after a Russian diplomat in The Hague was arrested after neighbours reported he was abusing his children. The Netherlands has since apologised for the action.
Prior to that, Russian coastguards seized a Greenpeace ship flying the Dutch flag which was involved in protests in Russia's Arctic waters. The crew of 30, including two Dutch nationals, face piracy charges.
© DutchNews.nl

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