Support The Moscow Times!

Warsaw Refuses to Pay for Damage to Russian Embassy

Polish nationalists burn the gate of the Russian embassy in Warsaw. @DanielaMalecKor

Warsaw said it won't pay compensation for damage done to the Russian Embassy by nationalists during a march on Nov. 11, Poland's Independence Day.

When the march — organized annually by Polish nationalist and ultra right organizations — reached the Russian Embassy a group of people torched a police security booth and threw stones and firecrackers at the embassy building.

Moscow has demanded an official apology and financial compensation of $11,000 from the Polish Foreign Ministry to cover the cost of repairs.

Although Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski apologized for the attack, Warsaw City Hall said Tuesday that it was not responsible for the hooliganism and that it also incurred damages to the tune of $40,000, RIA Novosti reported. A City Hall spokesman said the authorities intend to sue the march's organizers for compensation.

The organizers also deny responsibility for the riots, however. Tomas Palash, leader of the Polish Youth nationalist movement, and one of the march's organizers, said that he didn't understand how the city's authorities could punish the organizers for the actions of "hooligans and provocateurs," adding that the individuals who caused the damage should pay compensation.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more