Accused of “sabotage attempts” in Poland, 10 consulate employees were deported to Russia. The Kremlin tells Polish diplomats to prepare for the same.
Expulsion of diplomats, closure of consulates and increasing tensions: relations between Russia and Poland appear to be weakening after alleged attempts at “Russian sabotage” on Polish territory, which led to threats of deportation and cutting diplomatic relations.
Last Tuesday, the Polish Foreign Ministry announced the closure of the Russian consulate in Poznań due to suspicions of sabotage. Radosław Sikorski, Minister of the Diplomatic Portfolio, stated that there “Operations, cyber attacks and a destabilization of the border with Belarus”, all at the hands of Moscow.
According to Reuters, Poland’s role as a hub for transporting military supplies to Ukraine is what made the country a target for Russian espionage. More specifically, according to the British news agency, the decision that led to the closure of the consulate was the case of a Ukrainian citizen, accused of planning to burn down a paint factory in the city of Wrocław. “The court found compelling evidence of sabotage attempts and that the Russian secret services were responsible,” Sikorski said.
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As a result, a decision was made to deport ten employees back to Russia, according to Russian state news agency TASS. Among them are three diplomats, five administrative employees and two who are still awaiting accreditation. The press office of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs made it very clear: “In the event of a repetition of these events, Poland has the right to take decisive measures.” Sikorski added that “if we expel the ambassador, they will do the same,” but it is an idea that the head of Polish diplomacy does not rule out, if Russian sabotage continues.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, asked by the TASS agency about the Polish decision, gave an extremely brief but very clear answer: “Polish diplomats, prepare yourselves.”
Text edited by Dulce Neto
Source: Observadora
