The Netherlands will look into the case of the Russian diplomat arrested in The Hague last weekend, and will apologise if his diplomatic immunity was violated, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday afternoon.

The ministry was responding to an ultimatum from Russian president Vladimir Putin and a deadline of 16.00 hours on Tuesday for a reaction.

The diplomat, Dmitri Borodin, was arrested at his home on Sunday by ‘people in police uniform’ after neighbours complained about the way he was treating his children. He was released after a couple of hours but claims to have been hit by police during the arrest.

Vienna treaty

Commenting on the incident, Putin said: ‘This is breaking the Vienna treaty. We want an explanation, an apology and those who are guilty to be punished.’

On Tuesday afternoon, the Nos reported sources as saying Borodin was drunk and had mistreated his children of 4 and nearly 2-years-old. The police would not comment, the Nos says.

The two countries are already at loggerheads over the seizure of Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise which was sailing under the Dutch flag. Its crew of 30, including two Dutch nationals, are being held in jail on piracy charges. The Netherlands has threatened Russia with legal action.

King Willem-Alexander is due to make a formal visit to Moscow in early November.