On Monday, the head of the MFA Radosław Sikorski informed that he had decided to retreat his consent to the operation of the Russian Federation consulate in Krakow. The decision is linked to evidence of the engagement of Russian peculiar services in the arson of the mall close Marywilska in Warsaw, which burned down 1 year ago. An immediate consequence was given by Russian MFA spokesperson Maria Zacharowa.
The marketplace hall at 44 Marywilska Street in Warsaw burned down on 12 May. There were about 1.4 1000 shops and service points. On Sunday evening Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that "a fire on Marivilska was the consequence of arson on behalf of Russian services". "The actions were coordinated by a individual residing in Russia. any of the perpetrators are already in custody, the remainder have been identified and are wanted. We'll get everyone," he declared.
On Monday morning, the head of the Ministry of abroad Affairs informed about the decision to retreat the Russian consulate's approval to operate in Krakow. "In connection with the evidence that it was the Russian peculiar Services that carried out a shameful act of diversion towards the mall in Marivilska, I decided to retreat my consent to the Russian Federation consulate in Krakow" - wrote Radosław Sikorski on platform X.
In view of the evidence that it was Russian peculiar services that carried out a shameful act of diversion towards the mall in Marivilska, I decided to retreat my consent to the Russian Federation consulate in Krakow.
— Radosław Sikorski 🇵🇱🇪🇺 (@sikorskiradek) May 12, 2025On Sunday, Justice and Home Affairs and Administration Ministers Adam Bodnar and Tomasz Siemoniak informed about Russia's engagement in arson of the mall.
"On the basis of the evidence gathered, we know that the fire was the consequence of arson made on behalf of the Russian peculiar Services. We have in-depth cognition of the order and the course of the arson and how the perpetrators paper it. Their activities were organised and directed by an established individual residing in the Russian Federation. any of the perpetrators are already in custody, others are identified and wanted. Prosecutor's Office, Police and interior safety Agency proceed their investigative and operational activities to capture them" - they reported.
Russia responds
MFA spokesperson Maria Zacharowa announced that "Warsaw knowingly destroys relations" between countries and operates "against the interests of citizens". She then added, "the appropriate consequence to these inadequate steps will come soon".
The fire of the fair hall close Maryvilska in May last year almost from the beginning raised suspicions in public space of Russia's involvement, especially in the context of a number of another fires that occurred during that time throughout the country, as well as in Lithuania, where IKEA store was set on fire in Vilnius. The Lithuanian prosecutors informed in March B.R. that a Ukrainian citizen recruited by Russian military intelligence GRU was suspected of arson.
The day after the hall fire at the Marivilska National Prosecutor's Office began the investigation - as the PK prok spokesperson informed. Przemysław Nowak - "on bringing back an event threatening property in large sizes of fire".
The examination of the maryvilska cemetery began on 30 July 2024 – as shortly as the construction supervision decision allowing the demolition of the burnt hall was finalized. A full of 55 prosecutors and 100 police officers participated in the screenings from July to November 28, 2024. At the same time six viewing groups were working on the site, including prosecutors, policemen, technicians, experts from the Warsaw Fire Academy and device operators.
Source: PAP
