Russian embassy in Poland refuses to vacate Gdańsk property despite deadline

The Russian Embassy in Poland is refusing to comply with an order from the Polish Foreign Ministry to vacate the former consulate building in Gdańsk by December 23.

Despite the clear directive, the Russian side has claimed that the property at 13 and 15 Stefan Batory Street will continue to house an administrative and technical employee of the embassy. This has led to a dispute with the local authorities, as the city of Gdańsk has stated it cannot accept the building under these circumstances, Caliber.Az reports, citing Polish media.

Gdańsk Deputy Mayor Emilia Łodzińska highlighted that the Russian claims are problematic, as the buildings in question are registered under the ownership of the State Treasury, not Russia.

Additionally, the Deputy Governor of the Pomeranian Province, Emil Rojek, noted that Russian authorities assert they have a right of "perpetual use" of the property, a claim that has been rejected by Polish officials, leading to their refusal to transfer ownership.

The consulate has occupied the buildings since the post-war period, initially under an agreement between Poland and the Soviet Union. However, following the collapse of the USSR, ownership of the property passed to the Polish state.

Moreover, the Russian side has not settled municipal debts for the property, which have accumulated since 2013. Estimates suggest that the consulate's outstanding debt for the years 2013-2023 is approximately 8.5 million PLN (around $2 million), including interest. Despite being charged for use of the property since 2013, Russia failed to pay the fees and ignored repeated summonses for payment.

The dispute escalated to the courts, where Russia was ordered to pay part of the debt, amounting to nearly 400,000 PLN ($95,000). However, Russia has not yet settled this amount. 

By Sabina Mammadli