Poland on Saturday seized a building in Warsaw near the Russian embassy that was used as a school for the children of Russian diplomats, drawing protest from Moscow.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow would respond “very” harshly. “Warsaw will receive retaliatory steps, as you understand, they will be taken and worked out by agencies. This work has been launched, this is their choice, we will respond,” she said.
Polish officials said the building was owned by Warsaw’s city hall and claimed it was taken by Russia illegally. “Our opinion, which has been confirmed by the courts, is that this property belongs to the Polish state and was taken by Russia illegally,” the Polish Foreign Ministry said.
But Moscow said the seizure is “illegal” and violates established rules for diplomatic relations. “We regard this as yet another hostile act by the Polish authorities and a blatant violation of the Vienna Convention of 1961,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Throughout the war in Ukraine, NATO countries and Russia have had diplomatic spats, resulting in the expulsion of Russian diplomats from several countries. Most recently, Norway expelled 15 Russian diplomats over spying allegations.
Source: AntiWar.
