“Referendum” approves annexation of Russian embassy in Warsaw

Thousands of people have voted in a mock referendum on whether Poland should annex Russia’s embassy, in a stunt organised to protest against the fake referendums Russia has used to validate its seizure of Ukrainian territory.

A long queue formed for the vote in Warsaw, which took place outside the embassy itself and was organised by a group of NGOs. “Turnout was 127%,” the organisers announced afterwards. One voter held a sign declaring that “the embassy is a historical part of Poland”.

Voters were asked if they were in favour of annexing the embassy and turning it into a centre for Polish-Ukrainian cooperation. They could then choose one of three options, all of which were “Yes”.

“Is our referendum legal?” said the organisers. “Well no. But we have international observers who will confirm that it is valid.”

They said that 3,000 polling cards had been printed, but that this had not been sufficient for the numbers wanting to vote. After voting ended, it was announced that “the vast majority of valid votes were cast in favour of a positive answer”.

“Therefore, in accordance with the relevant articles of the relevant laws, the Polish state obtains the right to restore the property of the former embassy of the Russian Federation in Poland,” said the organisers.

The event was part of a wider protest outside the embassy against the actions of Russian forces in Ukraine and calling for the Russian ambassador to be expelled. It followed a similar demonstration earlier in the week after Russia’s large-scale bombing of Ukrainian cities.

Poland has been the main destination for refugees fleeing Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in February. It is estimated that around one million Ukrainian refugees remain in the country.

In April this year, the authorities in Warsaw seized a former Russian diplomatic compound that is still claimed by Moscow, despite courts ordering the Russians to hand it over. The mayor declared that the building would now be used to benefit the Ukrainian community.

Meanwhile, Polish internet users have joined the recent social media craze for announcing mock annexations of Russian territory.

The trend famously began with jokes about the Czech Republic annexing the Russian Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, which was followed by a mock referendum in Prague outside the Russian embassy to “confirm” the move.

Last week, a Twitter account was created to announce Poland’s “annexation” of Russia’s Irkutsk Oblast. The joke quickly drew thousands of likes and retweets, including by Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, an MEP from the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party.

Main image credit: Jacek Marczewski / Agencja Wyborcza.pl

Daniel Tilles

Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland. He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications, including Foreign Policy, POLITICO Europe, EUobserver and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.