Poland demands Russia return consulate

In Poland, local authorities' representatives in Gdansk attempted to occupy the former building of the General Consulate of the Russian Federation. According to local authorities, at the time of the activities, the city administration had access to the building. To support their claims, Polish authorities accused the Russian side of accumulating debts for the building's maintenance since 2013, stating that the debt amounted to approximately 5.5 million zlotys plus around 3 million zlotys in interest. The official position of the authorities has not yet been confirmed; however, it is noted that the Russian consulate in Gdansk has been closed following a report of 'sabotage on the railway' allegedly linked to individuals with Ukrainian passports. Russian officials deny the accusations and emphasize that the consulate building is sovereign property of the state it represents and is legally protected for carrying out its functions.

Context

The building of the Russian consulate in many countries is considered sovereign property of the Russian Federation and is used for providing consular services within legally protected rights and possibilities.