MOSCOW, August 28 (RIA Novosti) - Poland has decided to close its Consulate General in the Crimean city of Sevastopol, a ministry spokesman told RIA Novosti on Thursday.
“Minister of Foreign Affairs Radoslaw Sikorski has decided to abolish the Polish consulate in Sevastopol,” said Marcin Voychehovsky, a spokesman for the Polish Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The Polish consulate in Sevastopol was evacuated and its work was temporarily halted in March of this year.
“The work of consulates is usually suspended due to temporary difficulties. However, the current situation makes it impossible for the Polish mission to carry out its work within the Ukrainian state, and this is a long-lasting situation,” Voychehovsky explained.
According to the spokesman, the consulate was abolished to “avoid all sorts of political ambiguity…The decision was made after consultations with Ukrainian authorities. We respect Ukraine’s sovereignty. Poland considers Crimea to still be a part of the Ukrainian state,” Voychehovsky said.
The Republic of Crimea became part of Russia following a referendum on March 16. Almost 97 percent of the population voted to break away from Ukraine and rejoin Russia.
