Russia criticizes Poland over Warsaw ‘spy nest’ seizure

Moscow lashed out at Poland after authorities seized a high school near Russia’s embassy in Warsaw, promising a “harsh reaction” over the impounding that it claimed was a blatant violation of international agreements. 

The 1970s multi-story building, which serves children of diplomats and has been nicknamed the “spy nest” by Warsaw locals, belongs to the Polish government, said foreign ministry spokesman Lukasz Jasina, who said the move was OKed by a court.

Jasina said Moscow could protest the move, but that Polish authorities had acted within the bounds of the law. 

“Our opinion, which has been confirmed by the courts, is that this property belongs to the Polish state and was taken by Russia illegally,” he said.

Russia’s foreign ministry ripped the seizure as being “hostile” and violating the 1961 Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. It also deemed the move an encroachment on Russian diplomatic property in Poland.

“Such an insolent step by Warsaw, which goes beyond the framework of civilized inter-state relations, will not remain without a harsh reaction and consequences for the Polish authorities and Polish interests in Russia,” it said.

The school’s impounding comes amid increasingly frayed relations between Moscow and Warsaw, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. 

Warsaw has positioned itself as one of the leading allies for Kyiv, having played a crucial role in persuading other countries to provide Ukraine with heavy weaponry. 

In March 2022, Poland said it had ordered the expulsion of 45 Russian diplomats that were believed to be intelligence officers.