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UPDATE: Russia expelling five Polish diplomats

23.04.2021 15:40
Russia said on Friday it was expelling five Polish diplomats. The Polish foreign ministry called the decision, which came after a similar move by Warsaw last week, a "deliberate gesture designed to inflame relations."
Photo:
Photo: PAP/Wojciech Olkuśnik

The Polish diplomats have been given until May 15 to leave Russia, according Polish Radio.

The public broadcaster added that the Polish ambassador to Moscow, Krzysztof Krajewski, had been informed of the move by the Russian foreign ministry, and had been handed a list of Polish diplomats that are unwelcome in that country.

'Aggressive policy'

Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk said that Warsaw "reserves the right to an appropriate response."

The foreign ministry in Warsaw said the decision by Russia was "another example of an aggressive policy" and "a deliberate gesture designed to inflame relations with neighbors and the entire international community."

The Polish foreign ministry announced on Thursday last week that three staff at the Russian embassy in Warsaw had been designated personae non gratae, adding that Poland was expressing solidarity with a US decision to impose sanctions on Moscow.

The foreign ministry in Warsaw added that the reason for its decision was "the violation of diplomatic status and carrying out activities to the detriment of the Republic of Poland by the indicated persons."


Poland's ambassador to Moscow, Krzysztof Krajewski.  Photo: gov.pl
Poland's ambassador to Moscow, Krzysztof Krajewski. Photo: gov.pl

Washington last Thursday imposed a swathe of sanctions on Moscow in response to its alleged interference in US elections, cyber-hacking, moves targeting Ukraine and other "malign" acts.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministry in Warsaw has said that Poland "fully supports" the Czech Republic's decision to eject 18 Russian diplomats.

Prague on Saturday announced the expulsion of 18 Russians over suspicions that Russian military intelligence officers were involved in the explosion of an ammunition depot in the Czech Republic in 2014.

Top diplomats from Poland, Slovakia and Hungary have voiced solidarity with the Czech Republic amid tensions with Russia.

Poland’s Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau and his counterparts from Slovakia and Hungary earlier this week condemned “all activities aimed at threatening the security of sovereign states” and their citizens.

(pk)

Source: Polish Radio/IAR