Russian Ambassador to Poland Nears End of Term

Andreyev took office in August 2014 by signing a decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Face of Controversy and Rivalry with Polish Authorities
Andreyev has been on the receiving end of criticism on serious political issues throughout his posting in Poland. Publicly, he has defended Russia's war in Ukraine, calling it "a special military operation," language that has provoked outrage in Poland.

Several times, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already called him for an explanation on what the Kremlin does and says in relation to Poland. In turn, Andreyev has frequently alleged that Polish representatives are pushing an "anti-Russian narrative" and assert the government is "building a Russophobic mood among the population."

Andreyev was tapped to respond once before, in March of last year, when a Russian missile strayed into Polish airspace. But he never made it to the ministry. This caused Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Szejna to accuse him of "abandoning his diplomatic post" and breaking international law.

Andreyev later shrugged off the accusation, saying there was no reason to meet without proof and suggested Poles deliver complaints "by mail or by a courier.

Career Spanning Decades
Andreyev, 67, embarked on his diplomatic career in 1980 with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR. He has served in numerous countries, from counsellor in Portugal (1995-1999) to being ambassador to Angola (until 2002). He served as an envoy to Norway from 2006 to 2010, when he became Ambassador to Poland four years later.

As his term in Warsaw draws to a close, the question of Russia's diplomatic mission in Poland hangs in the air in the context of a protracted political confrontation.