The Russian embassy in Ireland has condemned an incident which saw a large truck driven through its gates in Dublin as a "violation of its territory".
In a statement posted on social media, the embassy alleged that gardaí “stood idle” as the incident occurred and said “no people of sound mind could support such senseless and barbaric actions.”
Gardaí arrested a man following the incident, which occurred on Monday afternoon at approximately 1.30pm. It resulted in no injuries.
The Russian embassy said: “A large truck came over to the gates of the Embassy, pulled back and torn down the gates of the Embassy. The incident took place in the presence of Garda officers, who stood idle.
“The Embassy strongly condemns this criminal act of insanity directed against [a] peaceful diplomatic mission.
“The Embassy views this incident as a clear and blatant violation of the Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic relations of 1961. The Embassy is in contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland, demanding that the Irish authorities take comprehensive measures to ensure the safety of its staff and their family members.
“The incident is cause of extreme concern. We believe that no people of sound mind could support such senseless and barbaric actions.”
#Statement by the Embassy on the violation of its territory pic.twitter.com/AMCGKTzRsL
— Russia in Ireland (@Rus_Emb_Ireland) March 7, 2022
A Garda spokesperson earlier confirmed that gardaí are investigating an incident of “criminal damage” at a property on Orwell Road.
“One male was arrested and taken to Rathfarnham Garda Station where he is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. Investigations are ongoing,” the spokesperson said.
Video of the incident showed a truck with a large trailer reversing into the gates and forcing them open, as a small number of protesters looked on. There were some shouts of “bravo” and “well done” from the group.
I’ve done my bit lads. It’s about time the rest of Ireland done their bit.
The driver, who identified himself as a “working man” from Leitrim, then exited the vehicle and handed out photos of what he said were Russian atrocities in Ukraine, according to a report in The Irish Times.
“I want the Ambassador and his colleagues to leave this country, leave this free country,” he said. “It’s about time we stood up.”
As he was led away by gardaí, he said: “I’ve done my bit lads. It’s about time the rest of Ireland done their bit.”
The Russian embassy, which is located on Orwell Road in Dublin 6, has been the scene of daily protests since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine 10 days ago.
Red paint has repeatedly been thrown on the entrance by protesters, while graffiti stating “nazis”, “blood on your hands” and “f**k Russia” has been daubed on the exterior.
Amid the protests, Russian ambassador to Ireland Yury Filatov previously told a Russian state-owned television station that Ireland is “hostile to Russia and everything Russian.”
Mr Filatov accused the country of being to the forefront of “anti-Russian events” in the European Union. He said protesters had been “really aggressive” at the country’s embassy in Dublin and said some Russian children faced bullying in Irish schools.
The situation in Ireland is “frankly difficult,” he said, blaming the media for portraying an “absolutely tendentious picture” of the Ukraine invasion.
Elsewhere, newspaper Le Parisien reported that a major Paris-based Russian cultural institution was attacked with a Molotov cocktail on Sunday night, in the most serious targeting of a Russian building in France since the start of the war in Ukraine.
