Moscow cations Poland following consulate closure
(MENAFN) Russia has pledged to retaliate after Poland ordered the closure of the Russian Consulate in Krakow, a move Moscow has labeled reckless and unjustified. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski announced the decision on Monday, accusing Russia’s intelligence services of orchestrating a fire that devastated a shopping center in Warsaw in May 2024.
Sikorski cited unnamed evidence allegedly linking Russian operatives to the incident at the Marywilska 44 Shopping Center. Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak also claimed that those responsible acted under the direction of someone in Russia, adding that several suspects are already in custody.
In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned Poland’s action, saying it harms bilateral relations and runs counter to public interests. She warned that Moscow would soon take retaliatory measures.
Russian Ambassador to Poland Sergey Andreyev stated that Warsaw did not inform Moscow in advance of the consulate’s closure. A spokesperson for the Polish Foreign Ministry said they expect Russia to shut down one of Poland’s consulates in return, potentially in Kaliningrad or Irkutsk.
The fire, which occurred on May 12, destroyed nearly the entire Marywilska 44 shopping complex but resulted in no casualties. The incident caused major financial losses, particularly among the Vietnamese business community operating in the center’s 1,400 outlets.
Poland and other Western nations have frequently accused Russia of sabotage and hybrid warfare in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine — allegations Moscow continues to deny.
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