He requested a well-liked Polish actor, Maciej Stuhr, to go on stage in the course of the present in Warsaw to translate his warning that democracy is “in grave hazard of being misplaced until we defend it”.
“The choice to democracy is a jail, a jail of the thoughts. The choice to democracy is violence, oppression, imprisonment and silence,” Sting mentioned after which ran his hand throughout his neck in a throat-cutting gesture.
British musician Sting interrupted a live performance in Poland on Saturday night to warn his viewers that democracy is beneath assault worldwide and to denounce the struggle in Ukraine as “an absurdity primarily based upon a lie”.
The 70-year-old delivered his message in a rustic that borders Ukraine, the place Russia launched its invasion on February 24. Tens of 1000’s of individuals have been killed and displaced thousands and thousands displaced. Poland has turn out to be the place of refuge for extra Ukrainians than some other nation.
“The struggle within the Ukraine is an absurdity primarily based upon a lie. If we swallow that lie, the lie will eat us,” Sting mentioned.
He gave the impression to be referring to justifications Russia has tried to offer for its invasion, together with a declare that it’s searching for to “de-Nazify” Ukraine, a democracy led by a Jewish president.
These within the viewers at Warsaw’s Nationwide Stadium would have additionally perceive a reference to their very own nation.
Sting drew robust applause specifically when he mentioned that democracy is one thing messy and irritating “however it’s nonetheless price combating for”.
Poland’s populist authorities is usually accused by the European Union and human rights organisations of eroding democratic norms with its efforts to tighten management over the courts and media, cut back the reproductive rights of ladies and interact in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.
After his speech the singer carried out Fragile, whose lyrics embrace the phrases that “nothing comes from violence and nothing ever may”.
