In Could, Poland ordered Russia’s consulate in Krakow to close after accusations Moscow orchestrated fireplace at Warsaw purchasing centre.
Russia says it is going to shut Poland’s consulate in Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania, after Warsaw determined to close down the Russian consulate in Krakow.
The Russian Ministry of International Affairs introduced the transfer on Friday.
This follows Poland ordering the Russian consulate within the southern metropolis of Krakow to shut in May after authorities accused Moscow of orchestrating a fireplace that destroyed a Warsaw purchasing centre final yr.
The Could 12, 2024, arson destroyed greater than 1,000 retailers on the Marywilska 44 centre, however nobody was injured.
Polish International Minister Radoslaw Sikorski accused Russian particular companies of involvement, saying there was proof they’d dedicated a “reprehensible act of sabotage” towards the centre. Russia denied any involvement within the assault.
In Could, Russia promised an “ample response” to Poland’s transfer, and on Friday, the International Ministry mentioned it was “withdrawing consent for the functioning of the Consulate Basic of Poland in Kaliningrad from August 29”.
It additionally mentioned Poland’s cost d’affaires in Russia was summoned and handed a proper word saying the transfer, citing “unfriendly” and “unjustified” actions by the Polish authorities.
“This step was attributable to the unfounded and hostile actions of the Polish aspect, expressed within the discount of the Russian consular presence on the territory of Poland,” it added.
Strained ties
Polish Ministry of International Affairs spokesperson Pawel Wronski mentioned Russia’s choice to shut the consulate was unjustified.
The opportunity of this choice “was taken into consideration by the International Ministry”, he informed reporters on Friday. However he added that this “doesn’t imply that it’s a reputable choice”.
“In contrast to Russia, Poland doesn’t have interaction in sabotage, cyberattacks or conduct actions towards the Russian state,” he mentioned.
He added that Poland would “reply adequately” to the choice, with out elaborating.
Diplomatic ties between Moscow and Warsaw have been traditionally strained and have frayed additional over Russia’s conflict in Ukraine.
Poland, a NATO and European Union member, is likely one of the essential nations via which Western nations provide weapons and ammunition to Kyiv.
In Could 2024, Poland imposed restrictions on the actions of Russian diplomats on its soil attributable to Moscow’s “involvement” in what it referred to as a “hybrid conflict”.
Poland later ordered the closure of Russia’s consulate in Poznan and mentioned it was keen to shut the opposite consulates if acts of “terrorism” continued.
In January, Russia closed the Polish consulate in St Petersburg in retaliation.
Other than the embassies, each nations now solely have one consulate left on their respective territories.