The simplest thing that can be expected and what is rather obvious is the closure of one of the Polish consulates in Russia – predicted on TVN24 Professor Włodzimierz Marciniak, Sovietologist and Russian expert, former Polish ambassador in Moscow. He talked about a possible response from Russia to the decision to close the country's consulate in Poland.
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 Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Diplomacy, commented briefly. She described the move as “another hostile step” and announced a “painful” response.
On TVN24, Professor Włodzimierz Marciniak – Sovietologist and Russian expert, former Polish ambassador in Moscow – said that “the simplest thing that can be expected and what is rather obvious is the closure of one of the Polish consulates in Russia.” – Similarly, the expulsion of the same number of Polish diplomats – he added.
“The Russians will do what they can do, not what they would like to do.”
– I would not draw too far-reaching conclusions from Maria Zakharova's words, because she no longer speaks diplomatic language, only some threats and so on, often without any basis. Russians will do what they can do, not what they would like, said the expert.
– It seems to me that we should wait to see what Moscow's actual reaction will be, apart from Maria Zakharova's hoots, and then consider further steps on our part, he said. In his opinion, it would make sense to “bring the number of Polish diplomats in Russia and Russian diplomats in Poland to parity, so that it would simply be the same number.” – It would be good to do any other activities as part of a coalition, a group of countries, but that is not likely to happen – he said.
“I don't think the Russians will stop any sabotage activities”
Marciniak also commented on the demand presented by the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to stop waging hybrid war against Poland and its allies. – In the event of continuation, we reserve the right to take further decisive actions – Sikorski said at the conference.
As the Russian expert assessed, “the fact that the minister formulated such a request is obvious, he should do it.” – However, I do not think that the Russians will stop any activities, sabotage or otherwise. They have been carrying them out for many years – he added, pointing out that such acts had already occurred in the area Czech Whether Bulgaria.
The Russian Federation has an embassy in Poland, located in Warsaw, as well as three general consulates – in Gdańsk, Krakow and Poznań.
Main photo source: Shutterstock