Violation of epidemic regulations is the official reason for the expulsion from Poland of the Consul of the General Consulate of the Russian Federation in Poznan. As TVP.info reports – the diplomat, although infected with the coronavirus, did not remain in isolation, but repeatedly left his place of residence. He was, among other things, on the grounds of the Russian Consulate General in Poznan and in the area of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA) hospital in Poznań where his wife was lying. He also took pictures of people protesting in Poznań in defence of Alexei Navalny.
On February 8, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that in response to the unjustified expulsion of a Polish diplomat, it had decided, in coordination with Germany and Sweden, to declare persona non grata an employee of the Russian Consulate General in Poznan.
Tvp. info claims that the decision was not only a reaction to the actions of the Russians but also the behaviour of the consul himself. According to the portal, the man’s flagrant violations of existing rules related to the coronavirus outbreak’ also contributed to his expulsion.
As on the website, we can read:
On 21 January the diplomat – like his daughter – was tested positively for SARS-CoV-2. His wife had been confirmed infected three days earlier. Even though the diplomat infected coronavirus, was not in isolation; he left his place of residence. It is known that he was, among other things, on the grounds of the General Consulate of the Russian Federation in Poznań and on the grounds of the MSWiA hospital in Poznań, where his wife was lying.
The Russian allegedly observed and photographed the participants of a picket in defence of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny, which took place on 23 January in front of the Russian Consulate building in Poznań.