Russia has refused to vacate its former consulate building in the northern Polish
Russia has refused to leave its former consulate building in the northern Polish city of Gdańsk, ignoring a government order to close the mission and escalating a legal and diplomatic dispute.
Poland ordered the consulate closed on Nov. 19, calling it retaliation for Russia’s hostile actions, including intelligence activities against Poland and its allies. Russian officials were told to vacate the building by Dec. 23.
Although most staff have left and the Russian flag has been removed, city officials say Russia has informed them it will not hand over the property. The Russian ambassador said one administrative worker would remain inside, a move the city rejected and plans to challenge in court.
The dispute centers on ownership of the building and millions of złoty in unpaid fees. Gdańsk says property records show the Polish state owns the site, while Russia claims historical rights to it. City officials say Russia owes about 7.5 million złoty in unpaid charges, including court-ordered payments that remain unpaid.
Officials compared the situation to an illegal occupation and warned the case could drag on, reflecting the sharp decline in Polish-Russian relations since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
