Blog 10 : Attack on Warsaw Embassy

This past Monday night on Polish Independence Day, there was an attack on the Warsaw Embassy.  Masked youths and right-wing radicals of the Polish decent veered from their peaceful protest to throw bottles, trash, and torches at the Russian Embassy.  Their protest was a police approved march where they chanted anti-Russian slogans reflecting lingering resentment among the Poles.  It was reported that several cars and the guard gate were set on fire.  This rampage led to 72 arrests and 14 injuries, including a dozen police officers.  Police were forced to use tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the gang of people from around the embassy.  This attack is the latest evidence towards a strain between Russian and Poland.  It is being said that this attack is proof that nationalism is more prevalent in Eastern European countries than it is in Russia.  

Obviously there are some tensions between the Polish and Russia, mainly coming from the Poles.  There are still some bad blood left there from the Cold War.  The attack on the embassy isn't the only example of hatred towards the Russians.  The Polish ambassador was forced by the Russian Foreign Ministry to issue an apology and compensate them for the damage to their embassy.  The ambassador also had a lack of attentiveness when the attack occurred while the police force responded with passivity and lateness.  It seems that those brave souls who attacked the embassy aren't the only ones with strong feelings against the Russians.  Conflicts such as these have the potential to become more if not handled properly.  We will have to wait and see what else happens between the two countries.

http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-poland-russia-attack-embassy-20131112,0,5200336.story#axzz2kYG8ZNjB

Kaelin Graham

11/13/2013

3:07 p.m.