Over 100 Arrested After Violence at Max Korzh Warsaw Concert

The clashes that broke out between the spectators and security personnel took place on Saturday.

Two witnesses told the Star one group of security personnel was completely overwhelmed, and that a series of traffic cones on the ground near the entrance to Toronto Coach Terminal were used as weapons. One attendee told Polish media outlet Onet: "This was not my first concert here, but never in this form."

Flag Sparks Outrage
The night went further into controversy when a man was seen holding a black and red flag of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)—a symbol associated with the 1943–44 Volhynian genocide, which saw tens of thousands of Poles murdered. Police have launched a probe into the matter to identify persons who were seen displaying such slogans, which could amount to illegality.

Artist's Controversial Tour Plans
He also got flak for being all over the place with his sentiment toward Russia's war in Ukraine and for including three Russian cities (Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, and Saint Petersburg) on his current tour. At the same time, though, during his own performance in Warsaw, he called for peace in Ukraine and a good relationship with Poland, while Belarus.

Massive Attendance, Mixed Reactions
Well, the concert was a massive success with ticket sales sold out in…five days. Attendance figures estimated at 60,000 to 72,000. Korzh, a major cultural figure in Eastern Europe, is praised for his emotional lyrics and popularity with Russian-speaking audiences in countries such as Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan.

Police Investigations Continue
A total of 109 people had been arrested, police said, with more expected to also be detained as the inquiry continues. The incident has prompted an inquiry into security at Poland's largest open-air music events.