Russia refuses to vacate the consulate building in Poland, considering it its own property.

The conflict over the Russian consulate building in Gdansk escalated due to Russia’s claims

The authorities of Gdansk refute Russia’s claims regarding the ownership of the consulate building in the city and intend to appeal to the prosecutor’s office to demand the premises be vacated.

Representatives of the Gdansk city administration stated that Russia does not intend to vacate the consulate buildings by December 23, explaining that they will house its “administrative and technical employee.” Gdansk’s deputy mayor Emília Lodzinska emphasized at a press conference on December 22 that, according to state registers, the owner of both buildings is the State Treasury of Poland.

The Russian side believes that the buildings belong to it and calls in a letter to the mayor of Gdansk to take “all necessary measures” to protect property. Meanwhile, the head of the legal department of the Gdansk city hall, Cezary Szabel, noted that there are no official documents confirming the transfer or exchange of real estate, as Russia implies. He suggested that such documents may be in the possession of the Russian side, which could present them in court.

Gdansk intends to take legal steps if Russia does not comply with the terms of property transfer, which may include an appeal to the General Prosecutor’s Office of Poland to initiate a lawsuit to vacate the buildings. If a decision is made in favor of Poland, there are plans to confiscate the property with the involvement of court bailiffs.

Earlier, on November 19, Poland announced the closure of the last Russian consulate in the country in response to railway sabotage, demanding the premises be vacated by midnight on December 23. In turn, Russia on November 27 announced a similar step, closing the Polish consulate in Irkutsk on December 30.