Poland Expels 45 Russian Diplomats on Grounds of Espionage
The Russian Embassy in Warsaw from which 45 diplomats are being expelled on the accusation of espionage. Photo: Pawel Supernak/EPA, via Al Jazeera
Poland is expelling 45 Russian diplomats from the country on the suspicion of using their diplomatic position as a cover for espionage, according to a tweet by Polish Minister of the Interior Mariusz Kaminski on Wednesday, March 25. The move is said to be a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as Moscow’s policies toward Poland and its allies.
Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Lukasz Jasina confirmed in a statement that the diplomats were being given five days to depart the country, with the exception of one individual deemed particularly dangerous who was asked to leave within 48 hours. The 45 individuals represent roughly half of the current embassy staff, and Jasina said that he was not aware of Poland ever before expelling so many intelligence officials at once.
“Russia is our neighbor and will not disappear from the map of Europe, but the aggression against Ukraine proves that it is a hostile state, and even hostile to Poland,” Jasina said. He appeared to suggest that the decision was also made with the high influx of Ukrainian refugees into Poland in mind. The country has already taken in more than 2 million refugees since the start of the Russian invasion in late February 2022, and also acts as a host of NATO troops in its military bases.
Separately, a Polish citizen working in Warsaw’s registry office with access to the city archives was detained on March 17 on suspicion of espionage for Russian secret services. One Spanish citizen of Russian origin was arrested just days into the invasion of Ukraine on grounds of working for GRU, the Russian military intelligence agency. Following these incidents, the country has been on high alert for any internal or external threats to Polish security.
Russian Ambassador Sergei Andreev, who is not among those being expelled, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and was there informed of the action. He condemned the decision made by the Polish Internal Security Agency, calling the accusations against the diplomats baseless and later saying to journalists that Russia holds the right to retaliate in an equivalent manner.
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine draws on, neighboring countries such as Poland are showing solidarity and taking action against Moscow in a number of ways. Photo: AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski
In a statement released following the announcement, the Russian Foreign Ministry criticized the expulsion, saying that “Warsaw has carried out a dangerous escalation in the region, guided not by its national interests, but by NATO principles based on open Russophobia elevated to official policy.”
Relations between Russia and Central European countries that are former members of the Soviet bloc have long been strained, but the recent military action against Ukraine has made the countries even more apprehensive of Moscow’s intentions within the region. During the week of March 18, four other European countries moved to expel Russian diplomats from their respective Russian embassies. Actions taken by Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia resulted in a total of 20 diplomats being discharged from their positions in each country. The expulsions appear to be a coordinated effort in response to the Russian activities being contrary to their diplomatic role, as well as a show of solidarity with Ukraine.
As the Russian attack on Ukraine continues, neighboring countries will need to make difficult decisions on how to move forward with their relations to Russia, the EU, and NATO while protecting their domestic security interests.