A 46-year-old Ukrainian man has been charged with causing bodily harm after allegedly stabbing a 37-year-old county councillor from Gorlice County and member of the executive board of the Association of Lemkos several times during an altercation before the opening of the 44th Lemko Vatra festival in Zdynia (Gorlice County).
He is due to be taken to the prosecutor’s office on Sunday for questioning. Police will request that he be placed in pre-trial detention.
The incident occurred late on Thursday, July 16, shortly before the start of the Lemko Vatra festival in Zdynia, Uście Gorlickie municipality, one of the most important celebrations of Lemko culture.
According to local media, the 46-year-old man was behaving aggressively and was under the influence of alcohol. When one of the people attending the event felt threatened by his behaviour, 37-year-old Andrzej Barna, a Gorlice County councillor and member of the executive board of the Association of Lemkos, intervened. He reportedly attempted to stop the aggressive man by using pepper spray, but the attempt proved unsuccessful, and the attacker pulled out a knife.
Witnesses, quoted by the local news website http://gorlice.naszemiasto.pl, said the attacker stabbed the councillor several times, striking vulnerable areas of his body. The victim was taken to hospital, where he received medical treatment before being discharged. His injuries were not life-threatening.
Police have largely confirmed this account.
“The 46-year-old Ukrainian travelled specifically to attend the event. While under the influence of alcohol, he began picking fights with participants. At one point, attendees noticed that he was carrying a knife, prompting security staff to intervene. During the attack, the 37-year-old man sustained several stab wounds, including to his thigh, arm and back. Fortunately, the injuries proved to be superficial, although he was transported to hospital,” Małopolska police spokeswoman Superintendent Katarzyna Cisło told the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
Police officers arrived at the scene, but the suspect refused to comply with their orders and resisted arrest.
“A Taser was used against the man. After he was restrained, he was examined by a medical rescue team in accordance with standard procedures. Hospitalisation was not necessary. He was taken into police custody. Tests showed that his blood alcohol level exceeded 1.5 per mille,” the spokeswoman added.
After sobering up, the 46-year-old was formally charged with causing bodily harm. Prosecutors are scheduled to carry out further procedural steps on Sunday.
“I would like to sincerely thank everyone for the many messages of support. As you can see, despite this unfortunate incident, I am safe and well,” Andrzej Barna said in a video posted on social media.
The Lemko Vatra festival is being held in Zdynia from July 17 to 19. Organised by the Association of Lemkos, it is one of the oldest and most significant cultural events of the Lemko community in Poland. This year’s edition is being held under the motto: “There’s no place like home.”