A municipal deputy in the Dutch town of Oldebroek has sparked controversy after a photo surfaced showing him posing with a pro-Russian flag and a Kalashnikov rifle, according to de Volkskrant.
The image features Tom de Nooijer, a local government official and former presenter for the Dutch broadcaster ON!, holding the weapon while displaying the flag, as reported by AD.nl. The photo has drawn sharp criticism from fellow council members, with some saying he must distance himself from the imagery, according to de Stentor.
The photo was reportedly taken during a holiday in Transnistria, a breakaway region in Moldova with close ties to Russia. De Nooijer was pictured there alongside Marlon U., a figure described by bnnvara as a neo-Nazi, with the group posing with Kalashnikov rifles.
Local council members have expressed shock at the image, calling it inappropriate for an elected official. The criticism centers on the combination of a pro-Russian symbol and a weapon, which several colleagues view as crossing a line, de Stentor reports.
The incident has raised questions about the political judgment of De Nooijer, who previously worked in media before entering local government. The exact date and circumstances of the photo have not been confirmed, but reports indicate it was taken during his recent travels.
Oldebroek is a municipality in the eastern Netherlands, and the controversy has put the local administration under scrutiny. No formal response from De Nooijer has been reported in the available material.
The coming days will likely show whether the deputy offers a public explanation or faces further political consequences from the local council.
