The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement it was also declaring three of the Polish consulate's diplomatic staff “persona non grata” and that they would have to leave the country.
“It was emphasized to the Polish side that Moscow has taken and will continue to take tough retaliatory measures against any unfriendly steps towards Russia,” the statement said.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski responded by saying that Russia had no right to such retaliation.
Speaking to TVP World in an exclusive interview at an OSCE summit in Malta on Thursday, he said: “We closed down the Russian consulate [in the western Polish city of Poznań in October] as a response to Russia’s acts of sabotage, of arson in Poland, which is completely unacceptable. These are hostile, criminal acts.”
Sikorski added: “Our decision was meant as a warning: We know what you are doing, we have proof that you’re doing it. Stop doing it, and if you don’t, we’ll take further action.”
Bilateral tensions
Poland has implemented various restrictions on Russian officials. Since June, Moscow’s diplomats, consular officials and their families have needed approval to travel beyond their designated consular districts.
On Wednesday, Poland backed a Czech bid to limit Russian diplomats’ travel within the European Union in response to concerns about spying and disinformation.
Tensions between Warsaw and Moscow were highlighted on Thursday when Sikorski exited the room when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov began speaking at the OSCE summit in Malta.
Sikorski told TVP World: “Mr Lavrov is coming here to lie about the Russian invasion and what Russia is doing in Ukraine and I’m not going to listen to those lies.”
