On Sunday in Saint Petersburg, the Polish ambassador to Russia, Krzysztof Krajewski, was the victim of an attack. The ambassador’s security intervened at the scene.
The assault on the Polish ambassador took place on Sunday. According to Gazeta Wyborcza, Krzysztof Krajewski was attacked by a group of “activists” carrying anti-Polish and anti-Ukrainian banners. The motive for the attack was reportedly Poland’s support for Ukraine in the war with Russia.
Attack on the Polish Ambassador
The incident was confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MSZ) spokesperson, Maciej Wiewiór. “On Wednesday, during a meeting with the Russian chargé d’affaires, the Polish side expressed its outrage. In response, we were told that such situations ‘should not happen'” he said.
In an interview with TVN24, Wiewiór added that on Wednesday Poland also delivered a diplomatic note concerning the withdrawal of consent for the operation of a consulate in Poland. Objections were also expressed regarding plans to remove reliefs at the cemetery in Katyn.
The spokesperson emphasized that the incident initially involved verbal abuse, which later escalated into an attempted physical attack. The assailants were stopped by SOP officers, responsible for the daily protection of the ambassador in Russia.
Krajewski confirmed these details in an interview with the Polska Agencja Prasowa.
“There was another hostile act against me and the embassy staff. While I was walking along the main street, Nevsky Prospekt, a group of so-called activists, well-organized and directed by individuals outside the group, verbally attacked me, shouting anti-Polish and anti-Ukrainian slogans, and tried to attack me physically” he recounted.
He added that “thanks to the professionalism of the embassy staff, the physical attack did not occur.”
Meeting with the Polish Community in Russia
On Sunday, Krzysztof Krajewski participated in a meeting with the Polish community in Saint Petersburg on the occasion of Independence Day. The attack occurred as the ambassador and consul Jarosław Strycharski were heading to a Polish service at the Basilica of St. Catherine of Alexandria.
Ambassador Krajewski has been heading the mission in Moscow since October 2021.