Netherlands scuttles Russia’s participation in UNESCO International Conference

According to a statement by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, quoted by TASS, the Netherlands has refused accreditation to a Russian delegation for the UNESCO International Conference that commenced on May 13th.

Zakharova highlighted that members of the Russian delegation were denied accreditation by the conference organizers at the eleventh hour, and a Russian expert was unable to obtain a visa. She characterized the decision by the host country as a clear example of the West's efforts to manipulate the convention for its interests.

The conference, titled "Cultural Heritage and Peace: 70 Years of the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict," receives support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, and Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands.

This incident follows a similar rejection by France, where over 20 Russian volunteers were denied applications to attend the Summer Olympics in Paris.