Russian group with embassy ties awards man who threatened ex-minister Kaag with torch
A Russian cultural organization with ties to the Russian Embassy in The Hague has awarded a peace certificate to Max van den Berg, the man convicted of threatening former Dutch Finance Minister Sigrid Kaag with a burning torch in 2022.
The Russian Cultural and Educational Promotion Center, or KCOPC, confirmed to Dutch investigative journalism platform Pointer that Van den Berg received the certificate “out of sincere appreciation” for his “contribution to the preservation of peace.” The award was presented May 9 during a pro-Russian demonstration near the Soviet war cemetery in Leusden.
Van den Berg gained national notoriety after he stood outside Kaag’s home in 2022, wielding a lit torch while livestreaming the incident. He was convicted and sentenced to five months in prison.
“That’s what made me known. Unfortunately. I’ve done so many good things, but no one pays attention to those,” Van den Berg told Pointer.
He now participates in monthly pro-Russian “peace demonstrations” on Dam Square in Amsterdam and is active in anti-NATO protests. At these events, speakers often claim that Western countries are responsible for the war in Ukraine.
In a televised interview with Pointer, Van den Berg defended the recognition, saying, “It shows I stand up for ordinary people. I’ve always stood with the oppressed, and Russian people are very much discriminated against and oppressed in the Netherlands.” He denied that the award signaled support for the Russian regime, adding, “We bring a very different voice, and that is very much appreciated.”
“This is just public opinion manipulation,” Derk Sauer, publisher of The Moscow Times, told Pointer. “It’s meant to give the impression that Russia defends oppressed Russians in the West. But Russians are not oppressed here at all.”
Sauer said organizations like KCOPC often identify individuals who unknowingly promote Kremlin narratives. “They are what we call ‘useful idiots.’ This is 100% backed by the Russian Embassy,” he added.
KCOPC denied having ties to the Russian government, though its official statutes explicitly state that it collaborates with the embassy. In a written response, the organization said it was “not aware” of Van den Berg’s criminal record and pledged to exercise “greater care” in selecting future volunteers.
The Russian Embassy did not respond to repeated inquiries from Pointer.
Pointer’s investigation into pro-Russian influence found that at least 35 self-described citizen journalists outside Russia have helped spread Kremlin propaganda. Some have relocated to Russia and now promote allegedly false narratives, including claims that Ukraine is developing biological weapons or that Ukrainian forces are responsible for Russian airstrikes.
One of them is Sonja van den Ende, who moved from Twente to Moscow and now shares such stories through Dutch alternative media and Russian state television.
According to Kimberly Kruijver, a hybrid warfare expert at Dutch research institute TNO, these activities are designed to destabilize Western societies. “The goal is to create chaos,” she told Pointer. “You spread disinformation until no one knows what’s true anymore. You turn people against each other, sow division, and weaken democracy.”
