In an advice brochure, the Polish foreign ministry has offered safety tips to fans, in addition to practical information on the conditions of entry and stay in Russia.
“There is a threat of terrorist attacks in Russia,” the Polish foreign ministry said in the booklet, adding that the threat “may increase in connection with the World Cup.”
Terror attacks in the host cities of the tournament “cannot be excluded,” the Polish foreign ministry warned.
It appealed to fans to be especially cautious in and around stadiums and fan zones as well as on public transportation.
It also advised them against making trips to Russia’s North Caucasus region, including the areas of North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya and Dagestan.
The ministry said it “categorically discouraged” travel to Crimea.
“Remember that Poland has not recognised the annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia and there is no possibility of granting consular assistance to Polish citizens staying there,” it said.
The ministry’s interactive brochure, which can be used on mobile devices, tells fans what they should do if they lose their identity document, for example.
The brochure furnishes the contact details of Polish diplomatic posts in Russia, including mobile consular offices that will be opened in the cities of Kazan and Volgograd for the duration of the tournament.
Around 16,000 fans from Poland have placed orders for “Fan ID” passes for the football World Cup in Russia as of the end of May, Poland’s PAP news agency reported on Friday.
A Fan ID is a personalised document that is obligatory for everyone who has a ticket to any of the games of the upcoming tournament. It provides its holders with a visa-free entry to Russia during the World Cup, with fans being able to enter the country 10 days before the first match and stay until 10 days after the last game, according to world football’s governing body FIFA.
The World Cup in Russia kicks off on June 14 and runs until July 15. Poland take on Senegal, Colombia and Japan in the group stage of the tournament.
Poland will open their campaign against Senegal at Moscow's Spartak stadium on June 19.
Manager Adam Nawałka's men will take on Colombia in Kazan on June 24 and play Japan in Volgograd four days later.
(gs/pk)
Source: msz.gov.pl, PAP