Hilversum councilor resigns after publication about possible emigration to Russia

NOS News•today, 6:23 PM

Hilversum councilor Karin Walters is resigning immediately following a publication in the AD. That newspaper wrote two weeks ago that she wants to move to Russia. Walters has denied this, but has resigned from her job because the riot “distracts from effective governance”, the regional channel NH writes.

Walters is said to have attended the ‘Emigrating to Russia’ meeting in Arnhem in a personal capacity in December, about emigrating to that country and Belarus. According to the organizer of the meeting, the pro-Russian Marie-Thérese ter Haar, Walters is “completely done with the Netherlands and may want to emigrate to Russia”.

Ter Haar also said during the meeting that “as we speak” people have already been to the Belarusian border to take a look. “A councilor from Hilversum, a very nice woman,” said Ter Haar, referring to Walters. “She hasn’t told anyone about this. She’s afraid of being judged, doesn’t trust the media.”

Walters herself denies that she attended the information meeting. She also denies in the AD that she has been to Belarus and that she plans to emigrate.

Walters, who was previously a member of the SP, has been an alderman for the past ten years on behalf of the local party Hart voor Hilversum. In a statement to the municipal council, which is owned by NH, she writes: “The publication of my private exploration draws me into the sensitivity of national political themes. This distracts from effective management by me and the municipal council of Hilversum, what I have always stood for.”

She also writes that she supports the reception of Ukrainian refugees in Hilversum and that as a councilor she “has deeply experienced the suffering of the attack on flight MH17”. Fifteen people from Hilversum died in the MH17 disaster.

An employee of Forum for Democracy who “offers assistance with relocation” was also present at the lecture in Arnhem. Forum for Democracy defends Russia and Putin and is suspected by other parties of being influenced or paid by Moscow. According to the AD, Ter Haar also has ties with FvD.