Banderite symbols in Poland’s public space are unacceptable – President Karol Nawrocki stressed on Tuesday, commenting on the incident involving OUN-UPA flags at a concert in Warsaw. He also welcomed the decision to deport over 60 people, Ukrainians and Belarusians.
Speaking to Polsat News, Nawrocki was asked about the events during Saturday’s concert by Belarusian rapper Maks Korzh at Warsaw’s PGE Narodowy Stadium. Among the audience, red-and-black OUN-UPA flags were visible.
“These events are, of course, outrageous. Back when I was president of the Institute of National Remembrance, I was involved in drafting an amendment to the Institute’s Act to expand the list of banned symbols to include the red-and-black flag. This needs to be done in Poland,” the president said. He added that the relevant bill is currently in the Sejm and that he hopes the parliamentary majority will finally adopt it.
“Banderite symbols in Poland’s public space outrage me — just as they do in Ukraine — but that is a different country. In Poland’s public space, however, they are unacceptable. We must respond very decisively to such incidents, simply by expelling such people from Poland,” he stressed.
The president expressed approval for Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s decision, announced Tuesday, that proceedings had been initiated to expel 63 people in connection with the case. “If such a decision was made, then it is the right decision,” Nawrocki said.
He added that regardless of possible provocations, there must be a firm response as well as historical education.
“We are aware that in Ukraine, Banderite symbols — even in general education — are not presented in a way consistent with historical research. These were murderers, degenerates, and that’s what needs to be said, who were responsible for the deaths of around 120,000 of our fellow citizens, our ancestors,” he said.
Nawrocki also noted that he had already raised the importance of historical issues in Polish-Ukrainian relations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“This topic came up in our conversation, and at our next meeting — if there is a format that allows me to speak on it — I see no problem in bringing it up again,” he added.