Krzysztof Sobolewski made the statement in an interview with public broadcaster Polish Radio on Tuesday morning.
Russia’s Victory Day on May 9 is one of the country's most commemorated public holidays, marking the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.
'The Russians didn’t liberate us, but replaced one occupation with another'
Sobolewski told Polish Radio: “The Russians didn’t liberate us, but replaced one occupation with another.”
He added: “This second occupation lasted much longer and inflicted gigantic losses on Polish society and Poland as a sovereign country.”
'It is my hope that Poland will respond in a firm and resolute manner'
Sobolewski stated: “I hope that this year, the Russian ambassador will refrain from the kind of provocations that took place last year, and that this time he will refrain from attempting to pay homage to the Soviet occupiers, who entered Poland on Soviet tanks.”
He added: “However, if he decides to repeat his actions from last year, then it is my hope that Poland will respond in a firm and resolute manner.”
Asked if "in such circumstances" Poland should expel the Russian ambassador, Sobolewski said: “In my opinion, yes.”
Russian envoy plans to celebrate WWII Victory Day in Warsaw on Tuesday
Russia’s embassy in Warsaw on Monday confirmed that Ambassador Sergiy Andreev was planning to lay flowers at the Soviet Military Cemetery in Warsaw the next day to mark his country’s Victory Day, and that it had asked Polish authorities for protection, to prevent a repeat of last year’s anti-Russian protest.
Polish foreign ministry spokesman Łukasz Jasina said on Monday that “the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs received the note” from the Russian embassy about its plans for May 9 and “didn’t recommend that the abovementioned ceremonies take place.”
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, a 300-strong demonstration has been registered to take place in front of the Soviet Military Cemetery between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesday, at the time of the Russian ambassador’s expected visit, according to officials.
There was strong evidence to suggest it would be a protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the onet.pl website reported.
Just after 11 a.m. on Tuesday, news outlets reported that Andreev had been prevented from laying wreaths at the Soviet Military Cemetery by anti-war-protesters.
Tuesday is day 440 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: tvp.info, wpolityce.pl, onet.pl, PAP