Russia closes Poland’s consulate in border area

(MENAFN) Russia has announced the closure of Poland’s consulate in the Kaliningrad exclave, citing what it describes as “hostile actions” by the Polish government. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated on Friday that Poland’s chargé d’affaires was summoned and formally notified that the consulate must shut down by August 29.

The move comes in retaliation for Poland’s decision to close Russia’s consulate in Krakow in late June, which Moscow called baseless and politically motivated. The ministry emphasized that unfriendly acts against Russia would always be met with an appropriate response.

Despite the closure, Poland still operates an embassy in Moscow and a consulate in Irkutsk. Russia, meanwhile, maintains diplomatic missions in Warsaw and Gdansk.

Relations between the two countries have deteriorated significantly, especially since the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022. Poland has positioned itself as a leading supporter of Kiev and a vocal critic of Moscow.

Tensions rose further in May when Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski accused Russia of involvement in a fire at a Warsaw shopping mall and ordered the closure of its consulate in Krakow. Moscow has denied the allegation.

Additionally, Poland restricted the movements of Russian diplomats to their assigned regions and, in 2023, seized bank accounts belonging to Russia’s embassy and trade office in Warsaw. At the time, Russian Ambassador Sergey Andreyev warned that diplomatic ties could worsen or be cut altogether if the trend continued.

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