Åge Sten Nilsen, 56-year-old vocalist and frontfigure for the rock band Wig Wam, was arrested at an airport in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2006 after arguing with a flight attendant, according to an interview with Se og Hør and Dagbladet. The incident occurred a year after the band represented Norway in the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest with the song “In My Dreams.”
The 2006 Kyiv Airport Arrest
Speaking to Dagbladet during TV 2’s autumn launch in Bergen, Nilsen recalled that the arrest took place during a period of heavy political corruption and prorussian governance in Ukraine, following the poisoning of the figure who drove the Orange Revolution. According to the artist, a flight attendant behaved poorly toward him, prompting him to speak up because he believes the customer is always right.
Police brought him to a station where he was handed a large stack of documents written in Russian. Nilsen stated that the paperwork contained about 100 pages of accusations. An official demanded money, warning that refusal would result in the documents being forwarded and an immediate three-day jail sentence. Because he could not read the Russian text, Nilsen refused to sign.
Intervention by the Norwegian Ambassador
Facing imprisonment, Nilsen remembered he had a contact in the country: the Norwegian ambassador. According to Nilsen, he called the ambassador and stated in English that he was being held against his will amid local corruption, asking the official to call the Norwegian press to share his story. Upon hearing this, a general looked at Nilsen and told him to leave, allowing the rocker to walk free. Unbeknownst to the general, Nilsen had actually spoken to the ambassador’s voicemail.
Eurovision Political Protest in 2005
The airport detention was not Nilsen’s first clash with Ukrainian authorities. During the 2005 Eurovision semifinal in Kyiv, the Wig Wam frontman chose to display an orange flag in support of the Orange Revolution on live television. According to Nilsen, the move went against formal rules prohibiting political content in the contest and caused dismay for the Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
Nilsen explained that he had originally planned to use a grey flag, but changed his mind at the last second after witnessing the local suffering and fear of the Russian regime. While he received reprimands from NRK afterward, he noted that seeing 26,000 people cheer on Market Square in Kyiv made him feel connected to that political struggle.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Who is Åge Sten Nilsen?
He is a 56-year-old Norwegian rock artist and the vocalist of the band Wig Wam, best known for representing Norway in the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest. -
Why was Åge Sten Nilsen arrested in Kyiv?
According to Nilsen, he was detained in 2006 after getting into an argument with a flight attendant at the airport. -
How did he avoid being jailed in Ukraine?
Nilsen avoided jail after calling the voicemail of the Norwegian ambassador and pretending to speak live about corruption, which prompted officials to tell him to leave. -
Did Wig Wam break Eurovision rules?
Yes, during the 2005 contest, Nilsen raised an orange flag on live television to support Ukraine’s Orange Revolution, violating rules against political content.
Related reading