Protesters against the war daub red paint on Russia’s ambassador to Poland

*Paromita Das

On Monday, anti-war protesters threw red paint at Russia’s ambassador to Poland, Sergey Andreev.

Demonstrators stopped a Russian delegation from laying a wreath at the Soviet soldiers’ cemetery in Warsaw.

Protesters dubbed them “fascists” and surrounded them with Ukrainian flags as they arrived to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany.

According to TASS, Andreev and his team were not seriously injured in the incident, but he has stated that he will file a formal protest.

“When they suggested not holding a larger event, we met them halfway and didn’t aggravate the situation,” Andreev told the agency.
Following the incident, Poland’s foreign ministry called it “regrettable” and stated that “diplomats enjoy special protection, regardless of the policies pursued by the governments that they represent.”

“A strong protest was expressed to the Polish authorities for practically conspiring with neo-Nazi thugs,” the Russian foreign ministry responded.

Meanwhile, private broadcaster TVN24 posted the video with banners reading “Kill Putin,” with blue and yellow colors resembling the Ukrainian flag.

“The police made it possible for the ambassador to drive away safely,” said Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski.

“The emotions of the Ukrainian women who participated in the demonstration and whose husbands are bravely fighting to defend their homeland are understandable,” he said in a tweet.
Poland, which has long had a strained relationship with Russia, has imposed harsh sanctions on Moscow in response to its invasion of Ukraine.