Poland closes Russian Consulate General in Krakow

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, Photo: PAP/Andrzej Jackowski

On Monday, 12 May, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski announced the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Krakow due to the involvement of Russian special services in the arson attack on a shopping centre in Warsaw on Marivilska Street last year.

Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski made the announcement on the social media platform X.

Polish investigators have found that the large-scale fire in the Marywilska shopping centre on 12 May 2024 was ordered by Russian special services. Some of the perpetrators have already been detained, while the rest have been identified and are being sought. It is known that the arson attack was coordinated by a person based in Russia.

It is not yet known when the consulate will cease to operate. The Russian Consulate General has not yet published a reaction to the closure.

As a reminder, Polish Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski accused Russia of trying to recruit Poles to influence the presidential election in May.