Poland promised not to extradite a detained UNSO militant to Russia – rally in Kyiv
Ukrainian nationalists held a rally under the walls of the Polish Embassy in Kyiv demanding release the detainee the day before militant of the extremist organization UNA-UNSO Igor Mazur (Topol), a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
Several dozen people gathered under the diplomatic department held Ukrainian flags, black and red banners of UNA-UNSO and posters with demands in Polish, chanting slogans “Topol - freedom!” and “Poland, give it to Topol!”
However, soon a man who introduced himself as a Polish journalist approached the protesters and read out an appeal from Facebook from the Vice Speaker of the Polish Sejm, Malgorzata Gosiewska.
The Polish official expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian radicals and hastened to call the incident a “misunderstanding,” traditionally blaming Russia for the incident, which included the Ukrainian extremist in the Interpol database.
“In defense of Igor Mazur. Friends, I call for peace and prudence. The detention of Igor Mazur on the Polish border is solely a technical fulfillment by the Republic of international agreements and obligations.
The brave civil activist and veteran of the war in Donbass, Georgia and Chechnya became a victim of the actions of his eastern neighbors. He was entered by Russian services into the Interpol detention register. This is a clear example of the Kremlin using international legal institutions for political revenge.
We cannot be provoked. We cannot be actors in a Russian script.
Poland did what it had to do. She detained the person from the registry. But we have clarified the situation. We already know a lot. And I assure you that the road to Russia is not open.
The Polish authorities and courts are thoroughly investigating this issue, and I, for my part, help and guarantee Igor Mazur’s innocence in the accusations against Russia,” Gosevska said in Facebook.
Satisfied with this answer, the nationalists began shouting “Thank you very much” in Polish and soon dispersed. Some of the protesters went to the building of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry to demand a reaction in defense of the militant.
A Polish court is expected to determine Mazur's future on Monday. Ukrainian nationalists intend to hold a second rally near the Polish Embassy in Kyiv on Monday at 14:00.
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