Offices

← All media

“The Inviolable zone” — Tatyana Tereshchenko’s comment for Novy Prospekt

The conflict over the school of the Russian Embassy in Warsaw and possible retaliatory measures may cast doubt on the basic principles of diplomatic immunity. Although 8 years ago, the arbitration court decided to evict the Polish consulate in St. Petersburg. Experts consider all these statements and actions to be futile.

The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, adopted in 1961, guarantees the inviolability of diplomatic missions. Moreover, they enjoy the rights of extraterritoriality: Russian laws do not apply in embassies and consulates located in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities.

Office under the standard

The Vienna Convention, the violation of which is pointed out in the Russian Foreign Ministry, guarantees immunity only in respect of premises that are "used exclusively for the work of a consular institution. Therefore, the Polish authorities do not see any obstacles to the seizure of the school building.

Tatyana Tereshchenko, Head of the Analytical Department of Prime Advice:

Any property of consulates is inviolable. The protection applies both to premises owned by the right of ownership and to premises rented for the residence of employees,

— the expert believes.

Full text