Diplomats from the recently closed Russian consulate in Poznań must leave Poland by November 30, Polish Foreign Affairs spokesman Pawel Wronski announced Monday.
Roronski, who is accompanying Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on his visit to the Netherlands, told reporters that Warsaw and Moscow discussed operating the consulate in Poznań. He confirmed that orders had been issued to evacuate the diplomatic building, and to declare the diplomats persona non grata. The diplomatic ministry spokesman added: “After November 30, they will no longer be present on Polish territory.”
“We are trying to deal with this matter in a civilized manner, while sending a strong signal to the Russian side that some measures are unacceptable on Polish territory,” Wronski emphasized.
Russian Ambassador Sergei Andreev confirmed the deadline, adding that three diplomats must leave Poland.
At a press conference on October 22, Sikorski announced that Warsaw would respond to recent acts of sabotage in Poland and allied countries by closing the Russian consulate in Poznań, western Poland. According to Sikorsky, acts of sabotage, as well as destabilization of the Polish-Belarusian border and cyber attacks are part of hybrid warfare.
Russian Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Poland would receive a “painful” response.
