Russia-Poland relations in the red: Expulsion of diplomats, accusations and complaints

There has been a rift in Moscow-Warsaw relations with Russia to criticize Poland today, accusing it of destroying relations between the two countries, while expelling five Polish diplomats in retaliation for the expulsion of three Russian diplomats.

Polish Ambassador Krzysztof Krajewski was summoned today to the Russian Foreign Ministry, which informed him of the deportation of five Polish diplomats who must leave the country by May 15, and described the deportation of Russian diplomats from the Poland “Absurdity”.

“This is another confirmation that Warsaw is consciously pursuing a policy of further degrading and destroying our bilateral relations,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Russia used the exact same language on Tuesday in a series of deportations of Russian diplomats to the Czech Republic for their involvement in espionage activities.

He expelled two Bulgarian diplomats last week in response to the expulsion of two Russian diplomats, while deportations of Slovak diplomats are expected following Slovakia’s decision to deport three Russian diplomats.

The common element behind the expulsions of Russian personnel was espionage, a charge made directly by the Czech Republic and Bulgaria and indirectly Poland, which said the diplomats were carrying out “activities to the detriment” of the country.

Russia, which maintains large embassies in the capitals of former Soviet satellites, has vehemently denied the allegations.

In the case of Poland, however, other complaints were also made by Moscow, as broadcast by Reuters and TASS and rebroadcast by the Athenian News Agency.

“With the efforts of the Polish authorities in recent years, contacts with Russia have practically frozen, a shameful war against Soviet monuments has begun, efforts are being made to torpedo Russian energy projects, a large-scale anti-Russian information campaign is being carried out,” he said. “History, the West’s anti-Russian sanctions are endlessly extended,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

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