Interview with Russian Ambassador to Poland Sergei Andreyev for RIA Novosti (was held on 3 February 2025, published on 6 February 2025)
A year ago there was a change of power in Poland. Did this in any way affect relations with Russia, the attitude towards Russia? Has the behaviour of Polish partners changed in any way?
Sergei Andreyev: There are no crucial changes either in form or in content.
Can it be said that the current Polish management officially acknowledged the Russian side's deficiency of guilt in the 2010 Smolensk plane crash? Were there any contacts on this case? Has the Polish investigation requested any information? Is it expected that after another change of power everything will start again?
The explanation of conspiracy and assassination, which was promoted by the erstwhile Polish authorities, was declared unwarranted by the Polish prosecutor – in this part suspicions were given to both the then Polish government with D. Tusk at the head and the Russian authorities. However, the Polish prosecution does not quit accusing 3 Russian air traffic controllers serving at the airport in Smolensk of "the deliberate origin of the disaster". The Russian investigation finds these accusations unfounded. They endanger to press charges against Russian forensic pathologists who have conducted investigations of the remains of the victims of the crash – also, in our opinion, completely unfounded. I do not know about any fresh contacts between Russian and Polish investigative bodies. Talk about what will happen if and erstwhile the authorities in Poland change is besides early.
What about the plane wreck that the erstwhile Polish authorities demanded? Will this be possible after the authoritative conclusion of the Polish investigation?
The Polish side inactive insists on returning the wreck of the plane that crashed in Smolensk. Our position remains unchanged: pending the completion of all procedural activities related to the investigation in Russia, the wreckage as evidence in the case must stay at the disposal of the Russian investigative authorities.
At 1 time, a Russian-Polish group for hard matters was established, which even started work and published a rather extended collection of articles. What about her now? Was she yet buried?
That group is gone. Given the approach to our common past presented by the Polish authorities, we do not see the point of discussing these issues with them. We have our own imagination of the past of our country, and we do not intend to adapt it to anyone.
How painful was the closure of the General Consulate of the Russian Federation in Poznań for Russian citizens and curious Polish citizens? Has his activities been transferred to another consular facilities? What matters do the Russians address mainly the Russian consulates?
Some inconveniences arise, of course, for Russian and Polish citizens surviving in regions close Poznań – they must address the Embassy in Warsaw or the General Consulates in Gdańsk and Krakow. Applications to consular offices are usually linked to the issuance of visas and various documents.
How do you personally respond to the constant discussions about the necessity of expelling the Russian ambassador from Poland and the fact that the Polish authorities have not yet done so?
I have worked in Poland for more than 10 years. The first public discussion on the expulsion of the Russian Ambassador broke out a year after I arrived here, and then regularly returned on various occasions. I'm utilized to not paying attention to it.
Are there attempts to recruit Russian diplomats in Poland? How active are Polish safety services in this direction?
There have been isolated cases of this, but seemingly their ineffectiveness discourages our non-partners from fresh attempts.
How do you measure the progressive militarisation of Poland, unprecedented purchases of weapons, expanding the number of armies? Is that a real fear of Russia's attack? Washing European money? Trying to distract the public from real problems?
Publicly, these preparations are justified by the "Russian threat". What are the another motives – I don't want to guess. In any case, these expenses are pointless: erstwhile it comes to defending against us, we do not intend to attack Poland, we do not request it for anything; erstwhile it comes to attacking Russia or Belarus, or to participating in armed action against Russia in the region of a peculiar military operation, it is simply a simple way to suicide.
How seriously did Poland take the information about Russia's launch of the "Oresznik" rocket?
They pretended either they didn't realize the weapon or they didn't pay attention to it. But I am certain that both political and military leadership of Poland is rather aware of the consequences of appearing in the Russian arsenal of non-nuclear weapons of specified power, against which there is no defence.
Polish law enforcement authorities study more Russian "spy and diversions" almost all week. Do the Polish authorities inform Russian consular posts about specified detentions? Can consuls meet with detainees Russians?
If a Russian citizen is detained, the Polish authorities, in accordance with the bilateral consular convention, inform us of this. A gathering with the consul is possible if the detainee asks for it. Regarding the “disclosure” of alleged Russian spies and diversions, the vast majority of which are not Russian citizens, the Polish side almost never publicizes the evidence of the acts attributed to them.
If I am not mistaken, the active phase of the war on Russian soldiers' monuments has been in Poland for over 7 years. How many monuments, graves and another memorial sites have been demolished? How many of them are left and have a chance to stay intact?
Not 7 and over 10 years – since spring 2014. Earlier there were 561 monuments of russian liberators outside the military cemeteries, now only a fewer twelve of them remained, and of course they are not protected. On the contrary, according to the ‘Decommunisation Act’, they are subject to ‘exemption from public space’. The commemorative plaques in burial sites are frequently reworked – so that there is no mention of the liberation of Poland by the Red Army and gratitude to the russian Union – and we regularly learn about subsequent cases of desecration of graves of russian soldiers.
Polish leaders have repeatedly announced that Russian drones and rockets have breached their airspace. Did these stories have a sequel? Have any evidence and facts been provided?
We've never been given any evidence.
What is the current trade balance between Russia and Poland? What are the trading positions?
Compared to highest 2013 – 27 billion dollars. – the volume of our bilateral trade decreased 8 times. Its nomenclature is not crucial for us or for the Polish side.
It is inactive loud about the business of respective properties belonging to the Russian side – a vacation hotel in Skubiance, a school building on Kelecka Street in Warsaw, a residential building on Sobieski Street. Are there any attempts to take over further properties? How active are they?
There are inactive respective objects which the Polish side does not want to recognise as our property. We don't know what their plans are yet.
Interview behind the website of the Russian Federation Embassy in Poland.
