Russian diplomats spurned in Europe’s capitals as anger boils over Ukraine war
- Protests in Europe have prompted Russia to warn diplomats to think twice when they venture out
- Russia’s ambassador to Poland was splattered with red paint by protesters on Monday
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Red paint splashed on Russian ambassador by anti-war protesters in Poland
Russian diplomat Sergiy Andreev was feeling unwelcome on the streets of Warsaw even before protesters doused him with red liquid thrown in his face at short-range this week.
Soon after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Andreev, who is Moscow’s ambassador in Poland, found the embassy bank accounts had been frozen. Attempts to meet with Polish officials for any level of diplomatic discussion were impossible, he said.
His regular barber refused to cut his hair. Insurance companies denied coverage for embassy cars, Andreev said.
“We are practically isolated,” he told Reuters, before the paint incident on Monday, which has prompted Russia to demand an apology from Poland or risk facing unspecified further steps.
Across Europe’s capitals, Russian diplomats are getting the cold shoulder, ranging from diplomatic expulsions by governments, to protests by individual citizens, and service denials by companies.
European Union governments have expelled at least 400 Russian diplomats and support staff. Warsaw has seized a building linked to the Russian embassy, and Oslo renamed a street in front of the Russian mission “Ukraine Square”.