Poland to Shut Down Russia’s Consulate in Kraków
Poland’s Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski, announced via a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the country is revoking permission for the Russian consulate in Kraków to operate.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded swiftly. Spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned the move as an “irrational step by Warsaw” and warned that “Russia will respond,” according to RIA Novosti
“In light of evidence showing that Russian intelligence services carried out a disgraceful act of sabotage against a shopping center on Marywilska Street, I have decided to withdraw Poland’s consent for the operation of the Russian consulate in Kraków,” Sikorski wrote.
Background
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had previously revealed that a massive fire at the Marywilska shopping center in Warsaw, which occurred in May last year, was the result of arson orchestrated by Russian intelligence.
According to Tusk, investigators confirmed that the fire was deliberately set under direct orders from Moscow. Some suspects have already been detained, while others have been identified and are now wanted by authorities.
Russia also uses its puppets to interfere with the elections.