The Russian Foreign Ministry criticized Warsaw for what it called an audacious breach of interstate dialogue over buildings tied to the Russian embassy. Moscow warned that the restriction would not end without an adequate response, as reported by TASS.
From Moscow’s perspective, Warsaw’s measures amounted to a clear violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and signaled a further encroachment on Russian diplomatic property in Poland.
Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, asserted that Poland had breached international law for years and described Polish policing actions as a provocation. She noted that official Warsaw had repeatedly ignored legal norms at the international level, in bilateral agreements, and in domestic steps, using a single word to summarize the situation: provocation.
Earlier, Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested that Warsaw City Hall and the police initiate proceedings against two buildings associated with the Russian embassy. TASS reported that Russian diplomats were given until 19:00 Moscow time on Saturday, April 29, to evacuate the school building at the mission.
Andrei Ordash, counselor-advisor of the Russian Embassy in Warsaw, called the development legal arbitrariness and a serious, unprecedented breach of the Vienna Convention. He described the incident as intrusive, noting that police had entered the premises after doors were forced open, and that 29 people, including children, were ordered to leave the school building with their belongings. The events began after 9 a.m. and were followed by inspections of all involved buildings.
Polish authorities permitted the removal of school supplies within a week, and Ordash pledged that Polish actions would not go unanswered.
The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has insisted that Russian authorities vacate properties not used for diplomatic and consular purposes, currently deemed to be in illegal possession. In addition to the school within the embassy complex, attention was drawn to a former residence for embassy staff that required repairs.
The morning of April 29 saw Warsaw City Hall officials, accompanied by police, force entry by breaking a lock on the door next to the embassy school after Russian diplomats refused access to the area.
Following the incident, the Russian Ambassador to Poland, Sergei Andreev, called the Polish actions unsurprising. He added that temporary classrooms would be prepared to continue lessons, signaling resilience amid the dispute.
In a broader context, March 2022 marked a period when Polish authorities moved to block accounts tied to the Russian embassy and the trade mission in Warsaw, with reports indicating the freezing of about 1.1 million USD and the seizure of various properties linked to the embassy. In response, Russia restricted the accounts of the Polish embassy in Moscow, illustrating the reciprocal nature of the measures between the two states.
By early March 2022, Poland began confiscating two Warsaw buildings deemed to be in unauthorized possession and not used for diplomatic purposes. The decision reflected concerns about the disparity in property ownership and doubts about a near-term resolution, according to a statement from the Polish Foreign Ministry dated March 1, 2022. The court subsequently ordered the transfer of the two buildings to the state treasury, with later plans mentioned to transfer them to Ukrainian authorities.
At the heart of the dispute lies a contentious issue of diplomatic premises and their lawful use, set against a backdrop of tightening measures between Poland and Russia. Analysts suggest the situation underscores the fragility of diplomatic property rights in periods of heightened political strain, a topic covered in expert commentary and official statements published by the parties involved and reported by news agencies such as TASS and others at the time.
In assessing the sequence of events, observers emphasize the key questions around procedural compliance with the Vienna Convention, the balance between police authority and diplomatic prerogatives, and the long-term implications for diplomatic presence in capital cities. The ongoing dialogue between Warsaw and Moscow continues to shape the broader landscape of bilateral relations and regional security considerations, with both sides signaling intent to defend their respective positions and properties.
Citizens following the case were guided by official briefings and consistent updates from the ministries involved, as international readers sought clarity on the legal standards governing diplomatic premises, the status of the contested buildings, and the potential for resolution under international law with respect to property rights and diplomatic immunity. Attribution for coverage: TASS and related official statements from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Russian Foreign Ministry.