The dust after the “Victory Day” has fallen a bit, the Russian ambassador has already washed the red paint off himself, rejoicing at the success of his provocation, and more and more critical comments are coming. And this is not a criticism of the ambassador of a barbaric country, who brutally murders Ukrainian civilians, but a criticism of the Polish government. Was it possible to prevent this incident? Wouldn’t it do greater damage to Polish honor to surround Andreyev with a police cordon, legally push back protesting Ukrainians, and use Polish services to safely lay wreaths on the graves of Soviet soldiers who, casually, murdered Poland?
READ MORE: Storm After Andreyev Incident! A Ukrainian journalist confessed to the action. “He deserved”; “Dangerous provocation.” COMMENTS
The Russian ambassador to Poland, Sergei Andreyev, decided to celebrate May 9 by laying flowers in the cemetery of the Soviet soldiers mausoleum. Despite the warnings, despite the negative advice from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and despite the information about the demonstration of war refugees from Ukraine taking place there, he went there together with representatives of the embassy. And while it was obvious that there must be a short circuit there, he didn’t take care of his protection. On the contrary, he fueled negative moods by repeating insidious lies about the “staging in Bucza”. There’s no doubt, then, that the intent was to unleash an incident that would be declared a “diplomatic scandal.”
Ukrainian activist and journalist Iryna Zemliana, who poured red paint, artificial blood, or raspberry syrup, was among the military refugees demonstrating against the Russian criminal attack on Ukraine. He didn’t defend himself. Personal security didn’t even try to protect him. He had previously come into direct, physical contact with the protester, which was expected to violate his immunity. The Russian provocation is over! (I omit here the subject of the activist herself and her affiliation with various organizations).
It is true that the inviolability of the ambassador, guaranteed by art. 29. Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. It’s a shame it’s come to this. BUT the Russian ambassador is purposefully RESTING, against the warnings of the Polish state, in the space of a LEGAL anti-Russian demonstration. Could the Polish government have banned him? Not. Could he protect him from this? This was the second variant of the Russian provocation. If the police protected the ambassador of barbaric Russia by brutally murdering and torturing civilians, if they set aside the Ukrainians who cried out for peace, whose land was being razed to the ground, if they protect Andreyev’s safety and shut up his people, there would be another, unbelievable scandal! It is enough to watch the story of Rafał Trzaskowski from May 7th. Even then, he tried to hold the Polish authorities responsible for agreeing to the Russian celebration, although that permission did not take place. Contrary. The Polish government warned and advised: “A note has been sent to the Russian embassy stating the risks.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs “has issued a negative opinion on the note from the Russian embassy related to 9 May”
Let us also recall our own reactions to what happened on May 8 in the streets of Berlin in front of the monument to Soviet soldiers, where the German police – “for security reasons” – hoisted the Ukrainian flag.
It is really hard to imagine what the consequences would be of an intervention against the Ukrainians protesting in Warsaw? The Polish police therefore did not actively report on the “Russian celebrations”, which were ILLEGAL and discouraged by the Polish authorities. However, when the incident took place, the ambassador was able to leave the scene safely. The head of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration issued a communiqué in which he stated:
Gathering opponents of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, where the crime of genocide takes place every day, was legal. The emotions of Ukrainian women taking part in the demonstration, whose husbands are bravely fighting for the defense of their homeland, are understandable. The Polish authorities have not recommended the Russian ambassador to lay flowers in Warsaw on May 9. The police allowed the ambassador to leave the grounds safely.
It is true that the “inviolability of the ambassador” was violated, but it must be remembered that the ambassador also broke the law by disrupting the legal demonstration with his presence. Immunity does not absolve anyone from responsibility and this responsibility must be clearly recognized here. Just across our border, a criminal war is raging from the state that Andreyev represents. His compatriots are killing Ukrainians. It is clear that every opportunity on their part will be used to express their despair. Because the blood flowing in Ukraine is not washable paint or raspberry juice. There, real people are murdered, civilians are brutally tortured and children are brutally raped by Russian soldiers. Therefore, the reaction to the presence of a Russian diplomat is not surprising. Maybe it’s high time he got kicked out of Poland. The Russians are masters of provocation and manipulation. They set new traps to discredit Poland, to put us at odds with Ukraine and the rest of the world. Yesterday’s provocation was conceived in such a way that every move of the Polish state would hit us – whether against international diplomatic standards or against the honor of the Polish uniform. There was no third option at this stage. And perhaps our state did not ensure the immunity of the ambassador of the criminal regime, but the Polish uniform was not stained with his protection.
Source: wPolityce