Russia criticizes Poland over ambassador blocked by crowd

Russia has criticised Polish authorities for turning a blind eye after its ambassador was blocked from leaving a flower stand at a military cemetery in Warsaw.

"The Polish Foreign Ministry was informed in advance by the Russian embassy about the planned ceremony. But the Polish authorities did not prevent the provocative actions of the 'protesters'," the Russian Foreign Ministry said on May 9.

The agency commented after a Russian delegation, including Moscow's Ambassador to Poland Sergey Andreev, was blocked by a crowd in Warsaw on the same day, preventing them from laying flowers at the Soviet Military Cemetery, "causing the ceremony to be interrupted".

"We consider this a manifestation of an unfriendly attitude on the part of Poland, an insult to the memory of more than 600,000 Soviet soldiers who died to liberate Poland from Nazi occupation, and non-compliance with obligations to prevent such situations from happening," the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed.

Moscow has accused Warsaw of replaying the events of World War II, trying to forget Russia’s role in rescuing European countries occupied by Nazi Germany. Russia has warned that it will respond in line with Poland’s policy.

Polish officials have not commented on the Russian information.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in Moscow on January 14. Photo: Reuters — Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in Moscow on January 14. Photo: *Reuters*

Mr Andreev said earlier that the Russian delegation was surrounded by an angry crowd when they went to lay flowers at the Soviet Military Cemetery on Victory Day, the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany.

The crowd demanded that the Russian delegation remove the Saint George ribbon, a symbol of Russia's victory in World War II. The delegation refused and was forced to leave the cemetery without being able to lay flowers.

Video posted by Russian news agency RIA Novosti shows protesters surrounding Ambassador Andreev, chanting anti-Russian slogans. Andreev told TASS that the Russian embassy contacted Polish police, but they responded that the protesters had not broken any laws.