Russia guarantees ‘harsh’ response after Poland seizes Warsaw constructing dubbed ‘spy nest’

Moscow lashed out at Poland after authorities seized a highschool close to Russia’s embassy in Warsaw, promising a “harsh response” over the impounding that it claimed was a blatant violation of worldwide agreements. 

The Nineteen Seventies multi-story constructing, which serves kids of diplomats and has been nicknamed the “spy nest” by Warsaw locals, belongs to the Polish authorities, mentioned international ministry spokesman Lukasz Jasina, who mentioned the transfer was OKed by a courtroom.

Jasina mentioned Moscow might protest the transfer, however that Polish authorities had acted inside the bounds of the legislation. 

“Our opinion, which has been confirmed by the courts, is that this property belongs to the Polish state and was taken by Russia illegally,” he mentioned.

Russia’s international ministry ripped the seizure as being “hostile” and violating the 1961 Vienna Conference on diplomatic relations. It additionally deemed the transfer an encroachment on Russian diplomatic property in Poland.

“Such an insolent step by Warsaw, which matches past the framework of civilized inter-state relations, won’t stay and not using a harsh response and penalties for the Polish authorities and Polish pursuits in Russia,” it mentioned.

The varsity’s impounding comes amid more and more frayed relations between Moscow and Warsaw, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. 

Warsaw has positioned itself as one of many main allies for Kyiv, having performed an important function in persuading different international locations to offer Ukraine with heavy weaponry. 

In March 2022, Poland mentioned it had ordered the expulsion of 45 Russian diplomats that have been believed to be intelligence officers.