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Polish embassy in Moscow splashed with red paint: officials

11.05.2022 22:00
Poland’s embassy in Moscow has been splattered with red paint in an apparent act of retaliation, officials said on Wednesday.
Audio
Polands embassy in the Russian capital Moscow.
Poland's embassy in the Russian capital Moscow.PAP/EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

“The Polish ambassador to Russia, Krzysztof Krajewski, has confirmed that the embassy building has been splashed with red paint,” the Polish foreign ministry's spokesman, Łukasz Jasina, told reporters.

He added that police had been called to the scene.

The incident followed events in Warsaw on Monday when Russia’s ambassador to Poland, Sergiy Andreev, was doused in red liquid by anti-war protesters, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

Russia summons Polish ambassador

Earlier on Wednesday, "Poland’s ambassador to Moscow was summoned by the Russian foreign ministry over the incident involving the Russian ambassador to Warsaw,” Jasina told the media.

He added: “The Polish ambassador remains in his post. The Russian foreign ministry made a verbal complaint over the events of May 9 at the Soviet Military Cemetery in Warsaw.”

He also told reporters that "Ambassador Krajewski outlined the Polish foreign ministry’s stance on the incident" during his visit to the Russian foreign ministry, which lasted “around 20 minutes."

Warsaw incident

Russia's Andreev was splashed with red paint by Ukraine supporters as he appeared at the Soviet Military Cemetery in Warsaw on May 9, the PAP news agency reported at the time.

He was there to mark the anniversary of the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, officials said. 

Poland’s Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau called the incident “regrettable.”

The Polish foreign ministry said in a statement that the attack “should not have taken place” as “diplomats enjoy particular protection, irrespectively of policies pursued by their governments.”

Poland’s government spokesman Piotr Müller said the Polish authorities had advised Andreev not to appear at the cemetery, for security reasons, given the public outrage over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Jasina commented on Wednesday: “Our view of the Russian ambassador’s refusal to follow our recommendation is very negative.”

Wednesday was day 77 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

(pm/gs)

Source: PAPpolsatnews.pl

Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Michał Owczarek.