The Polish authorities have already begun deporting Ukrainians who were detained after the concert of Belarusian singer Max Korzh in Warsaw. According to the latest data, among those detained is a group of Ukrainian citizens who are being forcibly expelled from the country on charges of hooliganism.
Among the deported is 18-year-old Angelina from Dnipro, who arrived in Poland in February 2022 after the start of the full-scale war. In Poland, the girl lived with her grandmother in the town of Pruszków near Warsaw, studied at a vocational-technical school, and worked in an online store.
Timeline of Events and Consequences
After Korzh’s concert, Angelina and 57 other Ukrainians were detained and have since been deported on hooliganism charges.
“I never imagined that going to a concert would end so dramatically for me. They came for me at 6 a.m. They didn’t even let me take my things. They took me away and deported me to Ukraine. I was also banned from entering the Schengen Area for five years.”
– Angelina
On August 18, Angelina was deported from Poland. On August 12, Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that Poland would expel 57 Ukrainians and 6 Belarusians, recording the corresponding decisions after the disturbances at the concert.
What Happened at the Concert and the Public Reaction
On August 9, Belarusian singer Max Korzh performed at the National Stadium in Warsaw. Before the event began, some attendees climbed over barriers, and security tried to stop the violators. Flags of the OUN-UPA were also spotted among the spectators, which became a topic of discussion in society and among politicians.
According to police data, during the concert 109 people were detained for various offenses: possession of drugs, assault on security personnel, use and carrying of pyrotechnics, and illegal entry to the stadium. Fifty of them were fined a total of about 11,500 zlotys, and for 38, proceedings were under consideration to determine penalties.
Max Korzh had previously condemned Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In 2020, during protests after the announcement of Lukashenko’s new victory, he urged protesters to stop the actions. Since 2022, the singer has changed his stance and has become critical of the Belarusian authorities.
The situation with the deportation of Ukrainians detained after mass events in Poland continues to leave open the question of balancing law enforcement with the rights of people to temporary residence abroad. The authorities promise to adhere to the law, but the deportation decisions affect the lives of young people seeking opportunities to study or to work abroad.