Slava Komissarenko told how he lives after losing Russian citizenship

During one of his stand-up performances, Komissarenko answered a viewer's question about his current document situation and what would happen with the London concert, which was supposed to take place last year.

The answer was much more detailed than expected by the audience. The comedian explained that he had obtained Russian citizenship even before the full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine began.

"So that Lukashenka wouldn't bother me. (...) Because I was on a wanted list with my Belarusian passport, not my Russian one. There's a different spelling. On the wanted list – Komissarenko Vyacheslav. And 'Komisarenko Vyacheslav' – he's a perfectly respectable person, never did anything to anyone, and accordingly, no one is looking for him," the comedian explained.

As for his Belarusian passport, the comedian claims it "has no pages, no space for visas, nor for stamps. And soon this passport will expire."

Therefore, he used his Russian document for travel.

Everything changed after Russia stripped him of his citizenship. As Komissarenko notes, "this was done extremely successfully":

"They stripped me [of citizenship] when I was in Dublin for a concert. That is, I was even outside the European Union (meaning outside the Schengen zone, as Ireland is indeed part of the EU – NN)."

According to the comedian, the concert organizer informed him about the Russian authorities' decision:

"I remember approaching him, and he was like: 'You've been stripped of your citizenship.' I said: 'What?' He said: 'You no longer have citizenship.'"

As Komissarenko confessed, at that moment he immediately understood the scale of the problem and had to act quickly:

"I'm sitting there and I realize that's it, all my documents are invalid. All my talent visas are now invalid. My Polish temporary residence permit is invalid. And I realize I need to get into the European Union faster than the information that I've been stripped [of citizenship] gets out."

According to Komissarenko, he bought "the very first ticket to any city in Poland." It was Krakow. On the way back, he was constantly in touch with his lawyer.

"We're working on a scenario where they don't let me in, and I end up in an immigration detention center. And from the immigration detention center, I apply for international protection," Komissarenko recounts, adding ironically:

"Yes, that's the price – I joked, f***, about Lukashenka..."

Upon arrival, according to the comedian, he had a strange conversation with a border guard:

"I enter. (...) I encounter a girl who takes my passport, takes my temporary residence permit, looks at the permit, and says: 'Purpose of visit.' I say: 'I have a temporary residence permit.' She says: 'Well, what's the purpose of your visit?' And I'm like: 'F***, this is definitely bad, definitely bad, they won't let me in now.' And in the end, she lets me through."

But, according to Komissarenko, even after returning to Poland, the problems didn't end. There were concerts ahead in Spain, and their cancellation threatened huge fines. After consulting with his managers, he decided to fly, despite the risk, hoping that "within the European Union, they shouldn't notice."

He couldn't fly calmly. The most tense moment was a public announcement call before boarding a Ryanair flight.

"Well, that's it, f***, this is it. They found out, they found me out." And I go there, (...) approach and say: 'Yes?' And they say: 'Vyacheslav, you are sitting by the emergency exit, would you mind moving to...' I say: 'Yes!' And he says: 'Seriously?' – I say: 'Yes, I can! Just let me on the plane, and I'll stand somewhere in a corner, what's the problem?'"

As for trips to the UK, Komissarenko hopes that thanks to the country's electronic visa system, he will be able to renew his visa and travel there again with his Belarusian passport, "they don't need to put stamps there anymore."

"So don't return your tickets, the jokes will be there," Komissarenko assured.

Recall that last year, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus included Komissarenko in the list of "extremists," and later "terrorists." In his homeland, he was заочно sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment for his jokes about Lukashenka. At the initiative of the FSB, he was also stripped of his Russian citizenship. He is banned from entering that country.

@slava_komissarenko Про то, как меня лишили гражданства #славакомиссаренко #давайтевместесделаемшоу #стендап ♬ оригинальный звук - Слава Комиссаренко

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