Russia’s increasing aggression towards Poland has taken a new turn with a former Russian official, Pavel Astakhov, suggesting on a televised interview that it would be acceptable to assassinate Poland’s ambassador to Russia. Astakhov, who was Russia’s children’s ombudsman from 2009 to 2016, made the remark during an interview with Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov. He argued that murdering an ambassador in retaliation “for unfriendly actions… is within the framework of international law,” citing his training at the KGB school’s counterintelligence faculty.
The comments caused a significant backlash in Poland, with the Polish Foreign Ministry summoning the Russian ambassador, Sergey Andreev, to protest Astakhov’s statement. Poland has been on high alert since Astakhov’s remarks, with the country’s ambassador to Russia, Krzysztof Krajewski, already receiving extra security protection since May 2022.
The tension between Russia and Poland has been escalating in recent months, with Poland seizing a school building in Warsaw that was being used by Russian diplomats and military personnel. The move was seen as a provocative act, and Astakhov’s comments were seen as a direct response.
Polish authorities had previously taken over other properties, frozen Russian bank accounts, and arrested several Russian nationals, leading to a deterioration in relations between the two countries. The incident last year in which an activist doused the Russian ambassador to Poland, Sergey Andreev, with a red liquid, also contributed to the rising tensions.
Russian official, Pavel Astakhov (Via Pavel Astakhov/Twitter)
Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau had strongly condemned the incident, calling it “highly deplorable.” Astakhov made a reference to the incident, joking that he waited to see if the Polish ambassador would be found floating in the Moskva River.
Poland’s Foreign Ministry handed Andreev a protest note, calling for criminal proceedings to be instituted and the perpetrator to be punished immediately. The ministry also urged Russia to take action to prevent such incidents in the future.
The comments by Astakhov and other Russian officials, including Security Council deputy chairman Dmitry Medvedev, have sparked concern among anti-hate organizations, who worry that the rhetoric could lead to violence. Medvedev had previously made incendiary statements, including calling for the extermination of Polish mercenaries in Ukraine.
The situation highlights the growing tensions between Russia and its European neighbors, which have been exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and prevent further deterioration in relations.
