A Ukrainian citizen was charged and faces deportation after flying a drone over the Belweder Palace in Warsaw, Poland, on September 15, with a 17-year-old Belarusian companion.
Charges and Deportation
On Monday, September 15, a Ukrainian citizen and his 17-year-old Belarusian companion were involved in a drone flight incident over the Belweder Palace in Warsaw. The Ukrainian heard charges for violating aviation law, which could result in up to 5 years in prison. He was handed over to the Border Guard along with a request for his deportation.
Incident Details
The incident occurred on Monday evening when the State Protection Service (SOP) neutralized a drone flying in a restricted zone over the Belweder Palace. Initially, it was reported that two Belarusian citizens were detained, but it was later confirmed that they were a Ukrainian living in Poland for 8 years and a Belarusian who had been in the country for several days. Both were legally residing in the country and had no prior convictions.
Investigation and Findings
The SOP reacted quickly to the incident, and the case was also taken up by the Internal Security Agency (ABW). The foreigners were questioned on the same night as the incident. According to the Ministry of Interior and Administration, there was no evidence that they acted on behalf of foreign services, and the incident likely resulted from recklessness or the desire to capture footage of the Lazienki Park. The ABW investigation confirmed that the young people did not act on behalf of a foreign intelligence service.
Legal Implications
Article 212 of the Aviation Law concerns flying in prohibited areas, which includes all state authority buildings. The Ukrainian citizen’s actions fall under this category, leading to the charges and potential deportation.