Red Paint Splattered At Russian Embassy Entrance, Moscow Demands Polish Apology

JAKARTA - Russia on Wednesday demanded an official apology from Poland and threatened possible future retaliation for protests in which Moscow's ambassador to Warsaw was doused in red paint.

Russia's Ambassador to Poland Sergey Andreev, attacked by protesters who sprayed red paint in protest of Russia's intervention in Ukraine, as he went to lay flowers at the Soviet Military Cemetery in Warsaw last Monday, sparked an angry reaction from Moscow.

The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Polish Ambassador Krzysztof Krajewski to accept the protest lodged by Moscow.

"Russia expects a formal apology from the Polish leadership in connection with the incident, demanding the safety of the Russian ambassador and all employees of Russian foreign agencies in Poland," the ministry said in a statement.

"A decision on further steps will be taken depending on Warsaw's reaction to our demands," the statement continued.

On Wednesday afternoon, red paint splattered on the entrance of the Polish Embassy in Moscow, a spokesman for the Polish foreign ministry said.

Separately, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau said authorities had warned Andreev, attending a memorial at Monday's funeral, of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, of the risk of provoking an incident, according to the state-run PAP news agency.

"However, what happened does not change our position at all, that diplomatic representatives of foreign countries are entitled to protection. No matter how much we feel the need to disagree with the policies of the government represented by the diplomat," Rau explained.

Relations between Russia and the West have been strained since Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine on February 24 in what it called a "special military operation" to disarm the country and protect it from "fascists".

More than 3 million Ukrainians have fled to Poland, which has consistently argued that Western sanctions imposed on Moscow will be harsh, and has expelled 45 Russian diplomats, prompting a retaliatory response from Moscow.

Meanwhile, Ukraine and the West say the fascist accusations are baseless and that Moscow is waging an unwarranted act of aggression against its neighbour.