Russian Foreign Ministry Threatens Poland with Retaliation Over Gdańsk Consulate

A senior Russian official has warned that any interference with the shuttered Russian consulate property in Gdańsk will trigger painful retaliatory measures against Poland, escalating an ongoing diplomatic property dispute.

Threats of Retaliation

Klimov, speaking to the RIA Novosti agency, addressed the situation regarding the closed Russian consulate in Gdańsk. He stated that if there are any attacks on Russian facilities in Poland, including the consulate building, the Russian side will be forced to take painful retaliatory actions.

Diplomatic Tensions and Domestic Politics

A representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry argued that Polish authorities are aware of Moscow’s potential response. He claimed that the statements made by Gdańsk officials regarding the property are primarily intended for a domestic political audience.

Klimov also asserted that Russia’s consular presence in Gdańsk dates back to the era of Tsar Peter the Great. He claimed that Russia owned the property long before World War II and that the city became part of the Polish state with the assistance of the USSR.

Closure and Property Dispute

On November 19, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski revoked the permit for the Russian consulate in Gdańsk to operate. The decision was linked to sabotage acts on the Polish railway system, which Polish authorities attribute to Ukrainian citizens acting on behalf of Russia.

Moscow maintains that the building is its property, provided for permanent, free-of-charge use. Gdańsk city officials, however, reject this interpretation, labeling the Russian claims as false and legally baseless.

Legal Challenges and Financial Arrears

City officials have warned that if Russia refuses to cooperate, they will initiate legal proceedings to recover the property, noting that such litigation could take several years. The municipality also estimates that Russia has failed to pay usage fees for years, with arrears from 2013-2023 totaling approximately 5.5 million PLN, plus an additional 3 million PLN in interest.

Russia previously responded to Warsaw’s actions by closing the Polish Consulate General in Irkutsk, which ceased operations on December 30, 2025.

Failed Takeover Attempts

After the formal closure of the consulate, city officials attempted to enter the property on Batorego Street but were denied access. The Russian side has not surrendered the keys to the building.

The city continues to invoice the Russian state for unauthorized use of the premises, with a recent payment demand exceeding 2.2 million PLN for the period ending in 2025. Previously, a court ordered Russia to pay nearly 400,000 PLN for a portion of the outstanding debt.