The Russians stay in the center of Krakow. "Representers of the bloody regime"

The Russian consulate in Krakow has been located at Bishop's Square in a building owned by the Polish State Railways for over 20 years. It is located just a fewer minutes walk from the Main marketplace Square in Krakow.

Since the brutal attack on Ukraine, there have been protests against Russian diplomats in Poland. In front of the consulate itself there were centuries of support for Ukraine.

Lukasz Gagulski / PAP

Consulate of Russia in Krakow. Support for Ukraine

There were demands to expel the Russian ambassador to Poland and to lower diplomatic relations with the aggressive neighbour.

However, it turns out that in the situation of the Russian consulate in Krakow nothing will change. "Polish State Railways finalize a fresh lease agreement for the historical building at 7 Biskupia Street, which has housed the Russian Consulate General for more than 2 decades," informs LoveKraków.pl portal.

– At this moment, the substance of concluding the agreement with the consulate is at the phase of obtaining the consents essential to finalise it – Michał Stilger, a spokesperson for the PKP, said in turn.

War in Ukraine. Protests against Russia in Poland

Against the Russians' presence in the centre of Krakow, they protested socially the places from the association “We improve Krakow!”. After the attack on Ukraine in 2022, they called on the railway company to terminate the contract. “It is worth showing that representatives of Putin’s bloody government are not welcome in our city,” said Krzysztof Kwarciak.

The consul general of Ukraine in Krakow was of the same opinion. “We support any initiatives – taken, of course, in accordance with global law – which counter the aggressor,” said Wiaczesław Wojnarowski in an interview with “Rz”.

An anonymous diplomat, with whom she spoke “Rz” believes that after the consulate in Poznań closes, while the Polish institution in Saint Petersburg closes, the Polish government does not want to escalate in relations with Moscow and leave the consulate in Krakow is approved by the Polish Ministry of abroad Affairs.