Sikorski closes the Russian consulate in Poznań. Tomasz Siemoniak on “crossing all boundaries”. “We've had enough of this”

Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski reported about “withdrawal of consent to the operation of the Russian consulate in Poznań“. – Its staff will be considered undesirable persons in the Republic of Poland – he said. He explained that he had information that the person behind the sabotage attempts in Poland and allied countries was Russia. Until the decision Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the spokeswoman of the Russian Ministry of Diplomacy, Maria Zakharova. She described the move as “another hostile step” and announced a “painful response.”

He talked about this case in “Kropka nad i” on TVN24 Tomasz SiemoniakMinister of Interior and Administration, coordinator of special services.

– Our decision is a response to what Russia is doing, sending people to set fire to various objects in Poland and carry out acts of sabotage. As a result, several dozen people are in Polish custody. We have the first case that has come before the court and this decision by Minister Sikorski, discussed and analyzed by us from all sides, is simply a response – he explained. He stated that “ordering people to perform acts of sabotage on the territory of another country is crossing all boundaries.” – This is a hybrid war – he emphasized.

Speaking more broadly about the acts of sabotage, Siemoniak added: – We are fighting, we are cooperating with allies. This is not just a Polish problem, it is a problem Czechów, Germansthe French, the Lithuanians, the problem of the Americans too. There are many such issues and the West, including Poland, must tell Russia: we are fed up with this, he continued.

– It cannot be that diplomatic relations are maintained here – although at a low level – and on the other hand hired agents are sent to cause harm and act in this way – argued the head Ministry of Interior and Administration.

Siemoniak also talked about the case of a Ukrainian who was detained by the Internal Security Agency in January this year, who probably acted on behalf of the Russians and planned to set fire to objects in Wrocław. – The problem is – this case illustrates it – that these are one-time agents, hired for little money, often without being fully aware of what they are involved in. This is extremely dangerous, he said.

The minister also talked about other cases of this type that occurred or were to occur in Poland. – We are talking about various situations, about a dozen people arrested. Their nature is essentially similar. These are arson or attempts to set fire to various objects in Poland, he explained. He added that the perpetrators of such acts of sabotage were or were supposed to be citizens of various countries. – This case is a case of a Ukrainian citizen, while (…) the Russian services simply entrust the work to citizens of different countries – he noted.

– Poland is the Schengen country that grants the fewest visas to citizens of the Russian Federation, (…), we have a very restrictive visa policy towards citizens of the Russian Federation – assured the head of the Ministry of Interior and Administration.

He enumerated that in certain situations, humanitarian visas, visas for the Pole's Card, visas in situations when, for example, there are other family members in Poland and visas “in connection with scientific matters” are issued.

On Tuesday, a demonstration took place in front of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister against the government's migration policy and the announced suspension of the right to asylum. About forty people gathered in front of the building. Organizers – Citizens of the Republic of Poland i National Women's Strike – they wanted to meet members of the government coming to the meeting of the Council of Ministers. However, the meeting did not take place. The director also took part in the meeting Agnieszka Holland.

Siemoniak, asked in “Kropka nad i” about this protest and the words of Agnieszka Holland, who allegedly said that the temporary suspension of the right to asylum is a violation of the constitution, emphasized that this is “definitely” not the case. – The Constitution clearly states that the Republic of Poland may grant asylum. There is no obligation here, it is a possibility and the details of this possibility are specified in the laws – said Siemoniak. He added that the migration strategy states that Poland should have a tool such as the possibility of temporarily suspending the submission of an asylum application. – This will be the subject of laws and subsequent discussion and is related to the fact that migration is instrumentalized on the Polish border and is an element of hybrid war – he said.

Siemoniak also referred to reports that the police were planning to intensify the protest and take mass action sick leave among others during the November 11 holiday. The action, codenamed “Lucyna”, is to be carried out between October 30 and November 12.

– This situation is part of an activity in one of the trade unions, where there is competition. We will start talks with other trade unions next Friday, said the head of the Ministry of Interior and Administration. He assessed that the pay raises for uniformed officers, which resulted from increases for the entire budget, were high, although – as he added – he would like police officers and other services to earn as much as possible.

– We have additional funds for the police in the 2025 budget, an additional billion, and we are ready to sit down and talk with the responsible trade unions. We will talk to the commander-in-chief, to all representatives, including those who are trying to protest that this is a terrible path, he announced. – Let's talk about how to improve the situation in the police, because it is not only a matter of remuneration, housing allowances, and various actions we want to take for police officers.

At the end of January this year, Ukrainian citizen Serhii S. was detained by ABW officers. Two days later, the court decided on his temporary arrest. He planned – as reported by the Internal Security Agency – “to set fire to facilities in the city of Wrocław that are located in close proximity to elements of infrastructure of strategic importance”, he was supposed to cooperate with Russian intelligence.

Serhii S. wanted to voluntarily submit to punishment and agreed on his own sentence with Wrocław investigators. On October 16, the Wrocław district court took up the case. He did not accept the deal agreed between the prosecutor's office and the accused. According to the court, the imposed sentence of three years in prison is too lenient. According to the procedure, the application for a penalty fails and the prosecutor's office must file a new indictment. An ordinary court trial will be conducted, with witnesses being questioned and all evidence analyzed.