Sergiy Andreev informed Poland’s foreign ministry about his plans last month, the onet.pl website reported on Monday.
Russia’s annual Victory Day holiday on May 9 celebrates the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, according to officials.
Russian nationals living in Poland intend to mark the occasion, even though Poland is now home to thousands of Ukrainians who have fled the Kremlin’s ongoing invasion of their country, onet.pl reported.
Asked by the website about its plans for May 9, Russia’s embassy in Warsaw said: “On May 9, Russia’s Ambassador to Poland Sergiy Andreev, together with Russian Embassy staff, plans to lay wreaths at the Soviet Military Cemetery in Warsaw. On the same day, a diplomatic reception will be held to mark Victory Day.”
The wreath-laying ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m., the Russian embassy said, adding that it in late April sent a note to Poland’s foreign ministry "providing information about the celebratory events planned for May 9 and asking Polish authorities to take measures to protect public order.”
The Russian embassy also said that the ambassador "expects that relevant Polish authorities will ensure appropriate public order during the celebratory events.”
On May 9, 2022, Andreev was splashed with red paint by an anti-war activist as he attempted to mark Russia’s Victory Day by laying wreaths at the graves of Soviet soldiers at the cemetery in the Polish capital.
Meanwhile, Polish foreign ministry spokesman Łukasz Jasina told onet.pl on Monday: “The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs received the note and didn’t recommend that the abovementioned ceremonies take place.”
Jasina added: “As for the other issues, the Soviet Military Cemetery is not under the Foreign Ministry’s jurisdiction.”
Warsaw City Hall said it had not been officially informed about Andreev’s planned visit to the Soviet Military Cemetery, but notified the police on the basis of unofficial reports, onet.pl reported.
Meanwhile, a 300-strong demonstration has been registered to take place in front of the Soviet Military Cemetery between 9 a.m. and 15 a.m. on Tuesday, at the time of the Russian ambassador’s scheduled visit, according to officials.
There is strong evidence to suggest it will be a protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, onet.pl reported.
Tuesday is day 440 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: onet.pl, dorzeczy.pl, wpolityce.pl