Ukrainian boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk He was handcuffed at an airport in Poland on Tuesday following an altercation when his travelling companion was denied boarding for inappropriate behaviour, the airline and security forces reported.
According to the criteria of
Usykthe world heavyweight champion, described Tuesday’s incident as a “misunderstanding,” while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky He expressed his disagreement with “the attitude against our citizens.”
Usyk was handcuffed at the airport
The 37-year-old boxer was scheduled to fly out of the airport Krakow to Thessaloniki, in Greece, together with another man on a flight of the Polish airline Buzz, a subsidiary of Ryanair.
“To the passenger who was traveling with Mr. Usyk “He was politely denied boarding by the gate agent at Krakow airport due to his disruptive behaviour,” Ryanair told AFP in a statement on Wednesday.
“To the Lord Usyk “He was not denied boarding, however (he) decided not to board,” the airline said, adding that the gate agent requested the presence of airport police.
The two men “were a bit upset. They did not want to leave the boarding gate. So, in accordance with procedure, our officers intervened,” a spokesman for the border guard confirmed to AFP. Jacek Michalowski, although he denied that they were arrested.
A video circulating on social media shows Usyk walking through the airport in handcuffs. Usyk tweeted on Tuesday that “a misunderstanding occurred” that was “quickly” resolved.
“Friends, everything is fine. There was a misunderstanding that was quickly resolved. Thank you to everyone who cared. Thank you to the Ukrainian diplomats for their support,” the boxer said.
Zelensky The Ukrainian president said on Tuesday that he had spoken to Usyk by phone after the incident. “I was disappointed by this attitude towards our citizen and champion. I have instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Igor Klymenko to immediately investigate all the details of the incident at the Krakow airport. Now everything is fine, our champion has been released and is no longer in custody,” the Ukrainian president added.
Usyk became the first undisputed four-belt heavyweight world champion in May after defeating Briton Tyson Fury in Riyadh.
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