Polish diplomats booted out of consulate in St. Petersburg?
PR dla Zagranicy
John Beauchamp
03.02.2015 16:45
A court in the Russian city of St. Petersburg has ruled that Polish diplomats must move out of the building used by the Polish Consulate General.
Polish consulate building in St. Petersburg, Russia Photo: Polish Foreign Minsitry
In passing the judgement, Daria Andreyeva from St. Petersburg’s Arbitration Court cited alleged arrears amounting to over USD 1 million, ordering the Polish government to pay its dues to the city authorities.
The Polish Consulate General in St. Petersburg is comprised of two buildings measuring a total of 3,000 square metres in the city’s Old Town on 5-ya Sovetskaya street.
The move comes as in August 2014 real estate administrator Inpredservice filed a motion with the courts on behalf of St. Peterburg authorities, demanding the return of the building and the payment of rent in arrears.
Russia maintains that Poland broke off a deal in 1993 which allowed for the real estate to be used for Polish diplomatic purposes free of charge.
However, the Polish Foreign Ministry does not agree, saying that as Russia has rent-free access to real estate in Poland, the agreement is mutual.
No representatives from the Polish Consulate General were present at the court hearing, as diplomats are not legally capable of participating in court proceedings.
Meanwhile, a statement from the Polish Embassy in Moscow sent to Polish Radio rules that the court verdict breaks international law, as a building which is used by a diplomatic mission is protected by the Vienna Convention. (jb)