Ukrainian champion Usyk arrested in Poland: Zelenskyy's reaction
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Getty Images)
Oleksandr Usyk was released in Poland after being arrested at Kraków airport on Tuesday evening. The undisputed heavyweight world champion. Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are investigating the circumstances of the incident, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
President Zelenskyy stated after midnight that he had spoken with Usyk by phone following the champion's detention.
"I was disappointed by this attitude towards our citizen and champion," the president said.
He added that he instructed Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha and Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko to immediately investigate all the details of the incident at Kraków airport.
Zelenskyy added that he had just been informed that Usyk had already been released and no one was detaining him anymore.
Arrest of Usyk in Poland
It was reported on the evening of September 17 that Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk had been detained in Poland at the Kraków airport. Ukrainian athlete and member of parliament Zhan Beleniuk shared the relevant video on his Telegram.
The footage shows Usyk speaking with individuals in uniform as he is led away in handcuffs.
Following this, a message from Usyk's wife, Kateryna, appeared online, stating that he was "all right, nothing criminal."
In a comment to RBC-Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said that the Ukrainian side categorically rejects the treatment of its citizens and champions as seen in the video.
"On the instructions of Minister Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine's Consul General in Kraków has already urgently departed for the airport to clarify the circumstances of the situation," the ministry's representative said.
Usyk's team responds to the incident
According to Oleksandr Usyk's manager, Oleksandr Krasiuk, commenting on the champion's arrest at Kraków airport via Instagram stories, "Thank God it's all fine. No one was arrested."
"Usyk is free. A misunderstanding," the manager added.
photo: Oleksandr Krasiuk's post in Instagram
Meanwhile, Usyk's team director, Serhii Lapin, made a statement on social media regarding the incident: "Don't worry, everything's fine. The customs control service is neglecting its duties."
photo: Serhii Lapin's post in Instagram
