Tensions have escalated between Russia and Poland after Polish authorities seized the Russian Embassy school in Warsaw on Saturday. The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement in response, warning of potential retaliation against what they described as a “controversial, illegal, and provocative” action.
According to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, Polish police and staff from Warsaw’s city hall entered the school campus on Saturday morning, instructing employees to vacate the premises. CNN has attempted to contact Polish authorities for their comments on the incident.
Lukasz Jasina, a spokesperson for the Polish foreign ministry, told Reuters that although Russia has the right to protest, Poland’s actions were in accordance with the law. Jasina explained that Polish courts have confirmed the property belongs to the Polish state and was unlawfully acquired by Russia.
RIA Novosti reported that the school would continue to function from a different section of the Russian embassy. Russia’s ambassador to Poland, Sergei Andreev, provided this information.
Poland has been a staunch supporter of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This recent incident has the potential to further strain diplomatic relations between Russia and Poland.
