Poland has decided to shut down the Russian Consulate in Poznan due to suspected sabotage attempts by Russia.
The news was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Radosław Sikorski, on October 22, and the decision comes after the country uncovered some suspected spy networks in the past years, Schengen.News reports.
Speaking for the media, Minister Sikorski said that an act of sabotage was attempted by the structures of a foreign state and, at the same time, stressed that, taking into account the seriousness of the issue, he has decided to close the consulate.
In addition to closing the Russian Consulate in Poznan, the Minister emphasised that its personnel would be declared undesirable in the territory of Poland.
Minister Sikorski further said that while Russia is attempting to sabotage the Polish territory, it is his responsibility to react immediately. He also highlighted that the country will not “retreat even one step”.
In response, Russian media have said that Russia is planning to retaliate against the decision of Poland to close its consulate in Poznan.
Poland Uncovered an Infiltration Attempt Just Recently in Krakow
The Polish authorities just recently uncovered an infiltration attempt that involved recruitment efforts by the Wagner Group in Krakow, the Kyiv Independents explains.
The District Court of Krakow started the trial of two nationals of Russia last week. The two nationals are believed to have been hired by the Wagner Group to give out flyers in Krakow in an attempt to encourage more people to join the organisation.
Poland is not the only country that has been complaining about the influence of Russia within its territory.
Last week, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Czechia, Jan Lipavsky, said that Russia is responsible for 80 per cent of the foreign influence in the world.
The same called on the other countries’ authorities to show more determination in exposing crimes and taking existing legal measures.
Poland continues to keep strict rules in place for Russians. The Polish authorities disclosed earlier this month that more than 60,000 Russians entering its territory had been required to undergo checks in the first six months of this year.
Moreover, recent figures show that from the beginning of 2024 until October 2024, Poland issued 1,821 Schengen visas to Russians.
Source: https://schengen.news/poland-closes-russian-consulate-in-poznan-due-to-suspected-sabotage-attempts/
