Russia refuses to vacate the consulate in Gdansk: Poland prepares for a legal process.

According to ТСН: The authorities in Gdansk are preparing for a lengthy legal process due to the unwillingness of the Russian Federation to vacate the premises of the general consulate. The term of this institution expires at midnight on December 23, however, Moscow has announced its intention to keep its employee in position.

Moscow's legal trap

Despite the decision of the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs to close the consulate, the Russian side resorted to diplomatic maneuvers. The Russian Embassy officially informed the Gdansk city administration that at the buildings located at Batory Street, 13 and 15, there will now be an 'administrative and technical staff member of the embassy.'

Russia claims that the property is its 'diplomatic ownership' and demands its inviolability. However, Gdansk's Vice President Emilia Lodzinska emphasized that, according to land registers, the owner of the properties is the State Treasury of Poland, and Russia's claims have no basis.

Million debt and legal prospects

The story of the villas on Batory Street began in 1951 when the USSR received them for free use. After the collapse of the Union, ownership rights passed to Poland, but Russian diplomats ignored bills for decades.

From 2013 to 2023, Gdansk calculated a debt of 5.5 million zlotys plus an additional 3 million zlotys in interest for Russia. The consulate did not respond to payment requests and did not comply with court rulings.

Since Russia refuses to hand over the premises, the Polish side plans to contact the General Prosecutor's Office. After December 23, the buildings will lose the protection of the Vienna Convention. The Treasury will file a court demand for the evacuation of the property, and after the court's decision, the procedure for seizing the property will begin.

Lawyers from the Gdansk city hall warn that the eviction process may take several years, as Polish legislation prohibits entering the building until the final court decision.

This situation around the consulate reveals the complexity of diplomatic relations between Poland and Russia, which exacerbates the already tense atmosphere in the region. The further development of events will depend on the decisions of the courts and the willingness of both sides to find a compromise.