Russia has ordered the closure of the Polish Consulate in St. Petersburg, in retaliation for Poland’s decision to close the Russian Consulate in Poznań. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that three diplomatic staff members from the Polish Consulate would be declared “persona non grata” under the principle of reciprocity.
In October, Poland had announced the closure of the Russian Consulate in Poznań, accusing Moscow of attempting to sabotage the Polish state and its allies. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Polish Consulate must shut down, and its staff must leave Russia by January 10, 2025.
Poland responded by warning that it would close all Russian consulates in the country if Moscow continued its alleged “terrorist” actions. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski threatened to shut down additional Russian consulates in Poland if such acts persisted.
The diplomatic tensions between Russia and Poland, a NATO member, have intensified since Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Both nations have expelled numerous diplomats, and Poland has been a strong supporter of Ukraine, providing crucial transit for Western weapons to Ukraine.
Poland has accused Russia of being behind espionage and sabotage efforts within its territory. Last year, Poland convicted 14 nationals from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine for preparing sabotage activities on behalf of Moscow. The convicted individuals were found guilty of attempting to disrupt trains carrying aid to Ukraine and monitoring Polish military facilities and critical infrastructure.
