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Poland punishes Russia for sabotage. Movement restrictions imposed on Russian diplomats

24.10.2024 13:00
Russian diplomats and their families can no longer move freely in Poland, and the closure of the consulate is just the beginning, reports today’s edition of the Polish daily „Rzeczpospolita”.
Poland imposes movement restrictions on Russian diplomats and halts visa issuance in response to sabotage activities attributed to Russian intelligence, signaling heightened tensions and potential further actions against Russia.
Poland imposes movement restrictions on Russian diplomats and halts visa issuance in response to sabotage activities attributed to Russian intelligence, signaling heightened tensions and potential further actions against Russia.PRdU/Khrystyna Pichkur/X/@rzeczpospolita

According to the newspaper, the movement of Russian diplomats and their family members within Poland has been under control since June 1, 2023.

The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to implement these restrictions due to sabotage activities and arson incidents allegedly orchestrated by Russian intelligence services.

Individuals associated with the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Warsaw are restricted to the Mazovian Voivodeship in central Poland. Similar restrictions apply to Russian diplomats from embassies in Kraków, Gdańsk, and Poznań, who can only travel within the boundaries of their respective voivodeships. All travel outside these areas must be documented and requires a three-day advance notice, as confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Poland halts Russian visas amid intensified hostility from Kremlin

Tomasz Broniś, a former officer of the Internal Security Agency (ABW) and counterintelligence officer, noted that Poland has not been issuing visas to Russians for over two years, only considering applications for humanitarian reasons or when it serves Poland’s interests. He acknowledged that hostile actions by the Kremlin towards Poland and the EU have intensified since Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

Following the closure of the Russian consulate in Poznań, Minister Radosław Sikorski stated that this is "the first step" toward further actions that could include the expulsion of the Russian ambassador.

Poland considers withdrawal from Russian satellite group Intersputnik

The Polish government is also considering withdrawing from Intersputnik, a satellite communication organization established by Russia, which would require President Duda's approval.

Germany has already withdrawn from this Cold War-era initiative, and Poland may exit alongside the Czech Republic, which also seeks to discontinue the use of Russian satellite technology.

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Source: Rzeczpospolita/X/@rzeczpospolita

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