Russia denounces attack on ambassador to Poland, who was hit with red paint by Ukraine war protesters
- Demonstrators shouted ‘fascists’, ‘murderers’, as ambassador Sergey Andreev visited a Warsaw cemetery to pay respects to fallen Soviet soldiers on Victory Day
- Moscow says ‘people of Europe should be scared to see their reflection in a mirror’; Poland says envoy was warned against laying flowers at the site
Russia’s ambassador to Poland was splattered with red paint thrown at him by protesters opposed to the war in Ukraine, preventing him from paying respects on Monday at a Warsaw cemetery to Red Army soldiers who died during World War II.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the attack, saying on her messaging app channel that “we won’t be scared” while the “people of Europe should be scared to see their reflection in a mirror”.
Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau described the incident as “highly deplorable”.
“Diplomats enjoy special protection, regardless of the policies pursued by the governments that they represent,” he said.
Ambassador Sergey Andreev arrived at the Soviet soldiers’ cemetery to lay flowers on Victory Day, which marks the defeat of Nazi Germany by the Allies. The major Russian patriotic holiday was celebrated with pomp in a parade at Red Square in Moscow.
As he arrived at the Soviet Military Cemetery in the Polish capital, Andreev was met by hundreds of activists opposed to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
