Poland apologises for Monday's riots outside Russian embassy

English>>World

Editor's Pick

Poland apologises for Monday's riots outside Russian embassy

(Xinhua) 08:20, November 13, 2013

Email|Print|Comments

twitter

facebook

Sina Microblog

WARSAW, Nov. 12 -- The Polish Foreign Ministry will send Russia a diplomatic note apologising for Monday's riots outside the Russian embassy in Warsaw, according to media reports on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, the Polish Foreign Ministry expressed its deep regret over riots in front of the Russian embassy.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Marcin Wojciechowski informed Polish Press Agency (PAP) on Tuesday that the ministry was preparing a special apology note to Russia, hoping this event would not harm Polish-Russian relations.

The march on Monday, organised by nationalistic organisations the All-Polish Youth (MW) and the National-Radical Camp (ONR), is part of the Independence Day celebrations.

Over 50,000 people gathered at 3 p.m. and set out from Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Science in the city center. Soon later riots happened outside the Russian embassy.

A police booth outside an entrance to the Russian embassy was destroyed and the rainbow installation on Warsaw's Zbawiciela Square were burned.

Police have detained 72 rioters, of whom two have already received sentences. Twelve policemen were hurt in the riots.

Warsaw Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz said Tuesday that damages caused by Monday's riots came to estimated 120,000 PLN (38,280 U.S. dollars).

The Russian Foreign Ministry demanded an official apology from Poland after the event.

（Editor：LiangJun、Yao Chun）