Russia's Foreign Ministry accused Poland of starting what it described as a "war on monuments," after the latter dismantled a monument to camaraderie between Polish and Red Army soldiers in the small Western town of Nowa Sol.
"We are outraged over the actions of the authorities of Nowa Sol, who received Warsaw's blessing, but [dismantled the monument] without consulting with Russia," said a statement released by the ministry on Saturday.
Ministry officials claimed the June 30 demolition violated a 1994 agreement between the two countries concerning war victims' memorials and burial places.
"The 'war on monuments,' which Poland has initiated, is fraught with the most negative consequences, for which its initiators will bear full responsibility," the statement concluded.
According to news site Meduza.io, Nowa Sol authorities plan to erect a monument to "heroes who fought for Poland" in the demolished monument's place. Nowa Sol mayor Wadim Tyszkiewicz wrote on his Facebook page on June 30 that the Soviet monument had been "huge, disgusting and always dirty," Meduza reported Saturday.
This is not the first time the destruction of a historic monument in a former Soviet country has elicited resentment from Russian officials.
There was a tremendous outcry in 2007 when Tallinn's Soviet Bronze Soldier monument was relocated from the center of the Estonian capital to a military cemetery.
The Federation Council, the upper house of Russian parliament, implored President Vladimir Putin at the time to end diplomatic relations with Estonia, and the State Duma, the lower chamber, demanded the imposition of economic and political sanctions against the country.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
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 every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
