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Asharq Al-Awsat
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Poland Orders Closure of Russian Consulate in Krakow, Citing Arson Attack Blamed on Moscow
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said Monday that he was ordering the closure of Russia's consulate in the southern city of Krakow after Polish authorities said Russia was responsible for a fire that destroyed a shopping center in Warsaw last year. "In connection with the evidence that the Russian special services committed a reprehensible act of sabotage against the shopping center on Marywilska Street, I have decided to withdraw my consent to the operation of the consulate of the Russian Federation in Krakow," Sikorski said in a statement. The fire broke out May 12, 2024, in the Marywilska 44 shopping center that housed some 1,400 shops and service points. Many of the vendors were from Vietnam, and it inflicted tragedy on many in Warsaw's Vietnamese community. The announcement comes amid rising concerns in Europe over Russian attempts to destabilize the region through covert operations. Russia in the past has denied accusations that it is carrying out such attacks. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X late Sunday that Polish officials "now know for certain that the massive fire on Marywilska was the result of arson commissioned by Russian services." "The actions were coordinated by a person residing in Russia. Some of the perpetrators are already in custody, while the rest have been identified and are being sought," Tusk said. "We will catch them all!"
Reuters
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Poland says Russian secret service behind 2024 fire in Warsaw shopping centre
WARSAW, May 11 (Reuters) - Russian secret services were behind a massive fire that nearly completely destroyed a Warsaw shopping centre in May 2024, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Sunday after a year of investigation into the case. "We already know for sure that the large fire on Marywilska was the result of arson ordered by Russian services. The actions were coordinated by a person staying in Russia. Some of the perpetrators are already in custody, the rest have been identified and are being sought," Tusk said on X. Poland has been a target of sabotage actions, which officials said have been part of a "hybrid war" being waged by Russia to destabilize the functioning of countries that support Ukraine, involving tactics like arson and cyberattacks.
