Russia will give an asymmetric response the Polish authorities’ decision to demolish Soviet monuments, Russian media reported on Monday.
Early in July, Polish President Andrzej Duda approved a bill regulating the demolition of almost 500 Soviet-era monuments throughout the country, as well as renaming of objects associated with the Communist legacy.
“The Polish authorities must understand that their unfriendly actions in the memorial sphere will not be left without consequences. Adequate retaliatory asymmetric measures will be taken against Poland,” a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry told the Izvestiya newspaper.
According to the source, the issue is being discussed during the contacts with Poland and other foreign partners on various international platforms including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
Following the Polish bill’s approval, the Russian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Poland’s actions. On July 19, the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, adopted an appeal to European lawmakers in connection with the Polish president’s decision.