Russia has criticised the Netherlands over its political statements against Moscow and the denial of visas to several Russian gymnasts seeking to compete at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova addressed both issues on October 20, accusing Dutch officials of escalating tensions with Russia and using unfair tactics against Russian athletes.

Netherlands Calls Russia an “Enemy”

According to Zakharova, Russia’s Embassy in the Netherlands sent a diplomatic note to the Dutch Foreign Ministry seeking clarification after Dutch Defence Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius described Moscow as an “enemy.”

Zakharova said the Russian Embassy had not yet received an official written response. However, she claimed that Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen had effectively confirmed that the statement reflected the government’s position.

She also referred to remarks by Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, who reportedly acknowledged that statements made during parliamentary budget debates were intended partly for a domestic audience and to justify increased military spending. The remarks were also described as a signal to Moscow.

Zakharova questioned the Dutch government’s position, saying the prime minister had been unable to identify specific Russian actions directly targeting the Netherlands when asked.

She warned that such rhetoric could increase the risk of further escalation between Russia and Western countries.

The Russian spokesperson reiterated Moscow’s position that it has no hostile intentions towards EU and NATO member states, while warning that Russia would use the necessary means to neutralise any genuine threat to its security

Russian Gymnasts Denied Visas

The second issue concerned Russian athletes who were unable to participate in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam, scheduled for October 17–25, 2026.

Zakharova claimed that the Dutch Embassy in Moscow delayed processing visa applications for the Russian national team before issuing visas to some athletes but denying them to others.

She alleged that some of Russia’s strongest and most decorated gymnasts were among those denied visas, despite being potential contenders for medals.

Zakharova described the decision as an attempt to weaken the Russian team and accused Dutch authorities of using discriminatory tactics. These allegations were presented by the Russian spokesperson and have not been independently established in this statement.

Russia Calls for Action by Sports Federations

Following the visa denials, Zakharova called on international sports federations to consider the Netherlands’ handling of the situation when selecting host countries for future competitions.

She argued that host nations should ensure fair and impartial treatment of all eligible athletes, regardless of nationality.

The controversy adds another point of tension to already strained relations between Russia and Western European countries, where security concerns, military spending and Russia’s international sporting participation remain politically sensitive issues.