Poland Seizes Russian ‘Spy Nest’ In Warsaw

 

Moscow, where perpetual aggrievement flourishes, is upset with Poland. That’s nothing new in the history between the two countries.

Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski on Monday said a fenced compound once used by Russia and now apparently empty had been seized.

Trzaskowski said the property would be made available to the Ukrainian community, to possibly house refugees taken in by Poland in the wake of Russia’s invasion.

Russians have never been good tenants much less good neighbors. Just ask any of their neighbors. You could ask the Finns, just make sure you don’t extol the virtues of Finlandization. If you do, you might want to wear a catcher’s mask.

The compound was built in a land-swap agreement between Poland and the Soviet Union in 1974.

Though Moscow received nine new properties in Warsaw, the Soviet side never reciprocated, and the buildings became empty in the 1990s.

In 2008, Warsaw ended the agreement and demanded compensation, charging that Moscow had occupied the grounds illegally. Russia has refused court orders to pay the lease or for the land or hand it over.

The building was empty but the locks have been changed and Ukraine will now receive the keys.

ImageRussia’s ambassador to Poland, Sergey Andreyev, accused the Polish authorities of seizing Russian diplomatic property.

“This morning, bailiffs came to our diplomatic property at 100 Sobieskiego Street in Warsaw and ordered the transfer of the building to the Polish State Treasury on behalf of Warsaw City Hall,” Andreyev was quoted as saying by Russia’s RIA news agency.

“Polish representatives cut off the locks to the gate and … have essentially occupied the facility,” Andreyev said.

Perhaps Poland could trade the ‘Nest of Spies’ for Crimea.

Published in Foreign Policy
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  1. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Chris Hutchinson (View Comment):

    The Reticulator (View Comment):

    Chris Hutchinson (View Comment):
    It wasn’t too dramatic. All part of legal issues that’s been going on for years. Also, I am not sure exactly which “government” you were referring to Reticulator when you mentioned not taking claims at face value but let me clarify. This was a city issue and the Warsaw Mayor is not from THE government (i.e. PiS) here in Poland. He is from PO, which is the political opposition.

    That is good to know.

    The Biden-like government I was referring to was the one that sends the state security police to conduct raids on the political opposition for various bogus reasons.

    Yes, that’s what I thought you meant. The current government (PiS) is far from perfect but they’ve been doing a fine job. The way the media portrayed what you speak of and many issues here the past eight years is disgraceful. Not only media, Hollywood too. I’ve seen more than a few TV shows make stupid comments about Poland being compared to countries like Turkey, Venezuela and the Philippines (e.g. Homeland). Democracy is just fine here. But like I said, the Warsaw Mayor is not even from that party; he’s from the supposedly oppressed party. Truth is, he took what was a small routine issue and made a big PR stunt of it because he’s jealous the government has been doing such an amazing job supporting Ukraine and Ukrainians in the country, half of which isn’t even reported in the media. Trust me, it’s the Warsaw Mayor who comes from the Biden-like party.

    Actually, Iwas referring to the Putin regime. If such things have been happening in Poland I didn’t know about it. 

    • #31
  2. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Chris Hutchinson (View Comment):

    The Reticulator (View Comment):

    Chris Hutchinson (View Comment):
    It wasn’t too dramatic. All part of legal issues that’s been going on for years. Also, I am not sure exactly which “government” you were referring to Reticulator when you mentioned not taking claims at face value but let me clarify. This was a city issue and the Warsaw Mayor is not from THE government (i.e. PiS) here in Poland. He is from PO, which is the political opposition.

    That is good to know.

    The Biden-like government I was referring to was the one that sends the state security police to conduct raids on the political opposition for various bogus reasons.

    Yes, that’s what I thought you meant. The current government (PiS) is far from perfect but they’ve been doing a fine job. The way the media portrayed what you speak of and many issues here the past eight years is disgraceful. Not only media, Hollywood too. I’ve seen more than a few TV shows make stupid comments about Poland being compared to countries like Turkey, Venezuela and the Philippines (e.g. Homeland). Democracy is just fine here. But like I said, the Warsaw Mayor is not even from that party; he’s from the supposedly oppressed party. Truth is, he took what was a small routine issue and made a big PR stunt of it because he’s jealous the government has been doing such an amazing job supporting Ukraine and Ukrainians in the country, half of which isn’t even reported in the media. Trust me, it’s the Warsaw Mayor who comes from the Biden-like party.

    I’ve found information about a controversy over the borders and voting districts of Warsaw, but nothing about raids on the offices of political opponents.  Any clues?

    • #32
  3. Steve Fast Member
    Steve Fast
    @SteveFast

    Zafar (View Comment):

    She (View Comment):
    Rosyjskie Diabły

    She (View Comment):

    Oh come on She, some of us say that about you guys as well and it isn’t fair when we do it either.

    Dear Zafar,

    I love you very much. And I am glad you’re here. But:

    I think you need to 1) actually read my OP

    I have to read something before commenting on it?!! Oh…..fine.

    and then 2) acknowledge that it was about the PERSONAL EXPERIENCE of those whom I have known when it has come to dealing with the Russians over the centuries. Every word, in my relating of it, is true. (If you need a third-party explanation of why Russia, as it stands today, is such a basket-case of a nation, see Peter Hopkirk’s The Great Game. What a wonderful book.)

    I give you mad props for not going immediately (as some here have already done) to the matter of “I don’t really GAF about your teenage friend and her younger sister who were raped (and perhaps even worse) by the Russian soldiers during the Hungarian occupation.

    That wasn’t my point She.

    The Brits did all that and worse in India, and my point is that it is still not fair to define all British people by their worst actions in India.

    Tempting. Human, even. But fair? Not even a little.

    It’s not historically accurate to say that the Brits treated the Indians worse than the Russians have treated their neighbors (and their own people). The Holodomor, Terror of 1937, and the 1916 Kazak genocide were each worse than all things combined that the Brits did to India. Not to mention democracy, medicine, and industrial technology that the Brits brought to India. There is a reason that Britain still has a Commonwealth while Russia is surrounded by neighbors who hate them.

    • #33
  4. Chris Hutchinson Coolidge
    Chris Hutchinson
    @chrishutch13

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    I’ve found information about a controversy over the borders and voting districts of Warsaw, but nothing about raids on the offices of political opponents.  Any clues?

    I am sorry for confusing your statement. I can be a bit sensitive when it comes to Poland’s international reputation. The incident that came to mind was in 2015 when a controversial Defense Minister sent MPs into a “NATO Center” (not really NATO) in the middle of the night. Dumb and heavy-handed for sure, and played right into his reputation, but part of a much bigger picture not reported in the media. The quote below was from President Elizabeth Keane in the TV show, Homeland. I’ve heard similar comments on a number of shows over the past eight years. In fact, President Biden (and the EU) didn’t speak all too differently about Poland right up until Russia invaded Ukraine. There’s a lot to Polish politics I don’t really have the time to get into too deeply at the moment but the media portrayal is largely unfair.

    For over 200 years we have had an angel on our shoulder in this country. Lately, I’ve been wondering where she’s gone. Look around, we’re in trouble. Our democracy is, and it is not Russia’s fault. It is ours. We are the ones killing it. When we think of democracies dying, we think of revolution, of military coups d’état, of armed men in the streets, but that’s less and less how it happens anymore. Turkey, Poland, Hungary, Nicaragua, the Philippines. The democracies now die when we’re not looking, when we’re not paying attention…the end arrives slowly, like twilight. And at first, our eyes don’t notice.

    • #34
  5. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Chris Hutchinson (View Comment):

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    I’ve found information about a controversy over the borders and voting districts of Warsaw, but nothing about raids on the offices of political opponents. Any clues?

    I am sorry for confusing your statement. I can be a bit sensitive when it comes to Poland’s international reputation. The incident that came to mind was in 2015 when a controversial Defense Minister sent MPs into a “NATO Center” (not really NATO) in the middle of the night. Dumb and heavy-handed for sure, and played right into his reputation, but part of a much bigger picture not reported in the media. The quote below was from President Elizabeth Keane in the TV show, Homeland. I’ve heard similar comments on a number of shows over the past eight years. In fact, President Biden (and the EU) didn’t speak all too differently about Poland right up until Russia invaded Ukraine. There’s a lot to Polish politics I don’t really have the time to get into too deeply at the moment but the media portrayal is largely unfair.

    For over 200 years we have had an angel on our shoulder in this country. Lately, I’ve been wondering where she’s gone. Look around, we’re in trouble. Our democracy is, and it is not Russia’s fault. It is ours. We are the ones killing it. When we think of democracies dying, we think of revolution, of military coups d’état, of armed men in the streets, but that’s less and less how it happens anymore. Turkey, Poland, Hungary, Nicaragua, the Philippines. The democracies now die when we’re not looking, when we’re not paying attention…the end arrives slowly, like twilight. And at first, our eyes don’t notice.

    I’ve had TVP included on my YouTube rotation for a while. They at least are in full-throated support for the Ukrainians. Is that what you find too?

    • #35
  6. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Percival (View Comment):

    Chris Hutchinson (View Comment):

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    I’ve found information about a controversy over the borders and voting districts of Warsaw, but nothing about raids on the offices of political opponents. Any clues?

    I am sorry for confusing your statement. I can be a bit sensitive when it comes to Poland’s international reputation. The incident that came to mind was in 2015 when a controversial Defense Minister sent MPs into a “NATO Center” (not really NATO) in the middle of the night. Dumb and heavy-handed for sure, and played right into his reputation, but part of a much bigger picture not reported in the media. The quote below was from President Elizabeth Keane in the TV show, Homeland. I’ve heard similar comments on a number of shows over the past eight years. In fact, President Biden (and the EU) didn’t speak all too differently about Poland right up until Russia invaded Ukraine. There’s a lot to Polish politics I don’t really have the time to get into too deeply at the moment but the media portrayal is largely unfair.

    For over 200 years we have had an angel on our shoulder in this country. Lately, I’ve been wondering where she’s gone. Look around, we’re in trouble. Our democracy is, and it is not Russia’s fault. It is ours. We are the ones killing it. When we think of democracies dying, we think of revolution, of military coups d’état, of armed men in the streets, but that’s less and less how it happens anymore. Turkey, Poland, Hungary, Nicaragua, the Philippines. The democracies now die when we’re not looking, when we’re not paying attention…the end arrives slowly, like twilight. And at first, our eyes don’t notice.

    I’ve had TVP included on my YouTube rotation for a while. They at least are in full-throated support for the Ukrainians. Is that what you find too?

    I follow several YouTube channels that are pro-Ukraine, some of them run by Ukrainians, some that are run by Russians, some by people from Baltic countries, and one run by an American blogger (who is OK but naive).

    But I hadn’t heard of TVP.  I looked it up just now and laughed out loud at the thumbnail on this one:

    • #36
  7. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    The Reticulator (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    Chris Hutchinson (View Comment):

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    I’ve found information about a controversy over the borders and voting districts of Warsaw, but nothing about raids on the offices of political opponents. Any clues?

    I am sorry for confusing your statement. I can be a bit sensitive when it comes to Poland’s international reputation. The incident that came to mind was in 2015 when a controversial Defense Minister sent MPs into a “NATO Center” (not really NATO) in the middle of the night. Dumb and heavy-handed for sure, and played right into his reputation, but part of a much bigger picture not reported in the media. The quote below was from President Elizabeth Keane in the TV show, Homeland. I’ve heard similar comments on a number of shows over the past eight years. In fact, President Biden (and the EU) didn’t speak all too differently about Poland right up until Russia invaded Ukraine. There’s a lot to Polish politics I don’t really have the time to get into too deeply at the moment but the media portrayal is largely unfair.

    For over 200 years we have had an angel on our shoulder in this country. Lately, I’ve been wondering where she’s gone. Look around, we’re in trouble. Our democracy is, and it is not Russia’s fault. It is ours. We are the ones killing it. When we think of democracies dying, we think of revolution, of military coups d’état, of armed men in the streets, but that’s less and less how it happens anymore. Turkey, Poland, Hungary, Nicaragua, the Philippines. The democracies now die when we’re not looking, when we’re not paying attention…the end arrives slowly, like twilight. And at first, our eyes don’t notice.

    I’ve had TVP included on my YouTube rotation for a while. They at least are in full-throated support for the Ukrainians. Is that what you find too?

    I follow several YouTube channels that are pro-Ukraine, some of them run by Ukrainians, some that are run by Russians, some by people from Baltic countries, and one run by an American blogger (who is OK but naive).

    But I hadn’t heard of TVP. I looked it up just now and laughed out loud at the thumbnail on this one:

    Break the Fake is very good. Rock Rachon is another good one.

    • #37
  8. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    My question was ill-formed. I’m interested in what the average Pole thinks.

    • #38
  9. Chris Hutchinson Coolidge
    Chris Hutchinson
    @chrishutch13

    Percival (View Comment):

    My question was ill-formed. I’m interested in what the average Pole thinks.

    OK, I understand your question but let me give some more insight into TVP first. TVP is a public station so tends to support the government (right now, PiS). The other big station is TVN. It’s strongly anti-PiS and supports the opposition, PO. I prefer TVP but they can definitely be over the top, too. They’re just closer to my beliefs, not to mention, TVN is just so darn hypocritical. One of their big criticisms of PiS is that they’re authoritarian. Yet, the guy I started my company with used to be a journalist for TVN and was fired as part of a purge of a number of conservative journalists working for them. I have lots of complaints but I digress. Anyway, what TVP and TVN DO have in common, and to answer your question about what the average Pole thinks, is “full-throated support for the Ukrainians.” It’s not controversial at all. The parties fight over everything but not that. There’s a reason… and it’s not because they love Ukrainians. There’s some rough history between Poles and Ukrainians. There’s some rough history amongst many of the former Soviet countries but almost unanimously in almost all countries in the region they despise Russia. It really should give American Russian-sympathizers some serious reason for pause.

    • #39
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