Observers abroad monitor the flare-up over the Polish embassy in Moscow and the Russian embassy in Warsaw as tensions rise. A spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, signaled that responses could be asymmetric in reaction to the withdrawal of funds from the Russian embassy accounts in Poland, underscoring reciprocity as a guiding diplomatic principle.
The diplomat noted that the Polish embassy in Moscow faces similar restrictions on access to Russian banking resources, reinforcing the likelihood of uneven measures. She explained that Russia would pursue justice through legal channels while keeping options open for asymmetrical moves if necessary. Importantly, she clarified that Russian funds were not confiscated outright; they were moved to district attorney accounts as material evidence, with Russia retaining no direct control.
Allegations by Polish authorities
On April 26, the Russian Ambassador to Warsaw, Sergei Andreev, stated that Poland’s prosecutor general had seized funds from the accounts of Russia’s diplomatic and trade missions. The money, held in US dollars and Polish zlotys, was transferred from Santander Bank to prosecutor office accounts, described by the ambassador as substantial sums.
By May 10, the Polish daily Rzeczpospolita reported that the prosecutor’s office had seized roughly 800,000 zlotys and more than $912,000, with total assets previously blocked in the embassies’ and trade missions’ accounts reaching about $1.2 million. The newspaper claimed that Russian diplomats attempted to withdraw large cash totals on three occasions—two withdrawals of $500,000 each and a final $300,000—drawing scrutiny from Polish prosecutors. The Russian ambassador had earlier challenged the seizure in court but did not prevail.
Officials from Moscow argued that the seized funds were mischaracterized as material evidence in a criminal case and later redirected into the prosecution’s accounts, describing the claim as false. A senior adviser for Russia’s trade representation in Poland, Anton Morozov, told RBC that such funds are not the kind of non-cash evidence typically used in a case.
Commentary from Moscow framed the actions by Polish authorities as a violation of the Vienna Convention. Still, the Russian side signaled continued diplomatic engagement and work, indicating that operations would proceed despite the dispute.
Polish prosecutors have raised concerns that the Russian diplomatic mission could use the funds to finance terrorism or launder illicit gains. The Russian Foreign Ministry rejected these charges as incompatible with established diplomatic practice and international law, describing them as contrary to norms governing relations between civilized states.
Earlier episodes dated back to March 3, 2022, when Warsaw froze the accounts of the Russian embassy and seized key real estate, including the building used by diplomats. In response, Moscow restricted access to the accounts of the Polish Embassy in Moscow as part of reciprocal measures. On April 29, 2023, Warsaw authorities allegedly proceeded with the confiscation process related to the Russian school building on the embassy premises, prompting a formal protest from Moscow. Zakharova affirmed that Moscow reserved the option to sever diplomatic ties if needed, noting that the impact would be felt most by Russians residing in Poland, even as ongoing diplomatic work continued.
These developments highlight a protracted dispute over embassy funding, legal processes, and the use of diplomatic prerogatives. The parties stress that dialogue remains essential, even as actions on the ground indicate a hardening of positions. The international community watches closely as discussions navigate issues of legal claims, state immunity, and the practical realities of operating diplomatic missions across multiple jurisdictions. Attribution: Russian Foreign Ministry; Polish prosecutors; Moscow embassy press statements.