Russia closing Polish consulate in tit-for-tat move
MOSCOW : Russia said today it would close Poland's consulate in Kaliningrad, a Moscow exclave near Poland and Lithuania, after Warsaw decided to shut the Russian consulate in Krakow.
Diplomatic ties between Moscow and Warsaw have been historically strained and frayed further over Russia's offensive in Ukraine, which Poland is supporting politically and with military aid.
In May, Poland ordered the Russian consulate in the southern city of Krakow shut after authorities accused Moscow of orchestrating a fire that destroyed a Warsaw shopping centre last year.
Poland – a Nato and European Union member – is one of the main countries through which western nations supply weapons and ammunition to Kyiv.
Russia vowed an 'adequate response' and today the foreign ministry said it was 'withdrawing consent for the functioning of the consulate general of Poland in Kaliningrad from Aug 29'.
It also said Poland's charge d'affaires in Russia was summoned and handed a formal note announcing the move.
'This step was caused by the unfounded and hostile actions of the Polish side, expressed in the reduction of the Russian consular presence on the territory of Poland,' it added.
In May 2024, Poland imposed restrictions on the movements of Russian diplomats on its soil, due to Moscow's 'involvement' in what it called a 'hybrid war'.
Poland later ordered the closure of Russia's consulate in Poznan and said it was willing to close the other consulates if acts of 'terrorism' continued.
In January, Russia closed the Polish consulate in St Petersburg in retaliation.
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