Poland protested on Wednesday, May 21st, against the removal of military symbols from a Polish war cemetery in Russia, describing the act as a “provocation” and a deliberate attempt to interfere in the country’s upcoming presidential election.
According to a statement by Poland’s foreign ministry, the government condemns “the devastation of a Polish monument at the War Cemetery in Mednoye.” The ministry confirmed that Polish military crosses “have been hacked off a cemetery monument.”
“We regard this outrageous provocation not only as an attempt to interfere in Poland’s presidential election, but as a typical Russian ploy to change history,” the ministry said.
The Polish foreign ministry demanded immediate action from Moscow. “We demand that the Russians immediately restore the cemetery to its original condition,” it said.
Meanwhile, the cemetery’s administration stated on its website that the military symbols were removed due to “violations of federal law.”
The desecration of the cemetery comes just days before the second round of Poland’s presidential election on June 1st, which will see pro-EU candidate Rafał Trzaskowski face off against conservative contender Karol Nawrocki.
