Polish Prosecutor Requests Detention of MEP Grzegorz Braun

The Polish Prosecutor’s Office has officially requested the European Parliament’s authorization to detain and forcibly bring in MEP Grzegorz Braun following his persistent failure to appear for scheduled procedural hearings.

Prosecution Seeks Forced Appearance

Prosecutor General spokesperson Anna Adamiak announced that a formal request was submitted to European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. This motion seeks permission to detain and forcibly bring in Grzegorz Braun, as the MEP has repeatedly ignored official summons related to ongoing criminal investigations.

The prosecutor noted that despite the European Parliament previously waiving Braun’s immunity, the MEP has actively obstructed legal proceedings. Adamiak stated that Braun and his defense counsel have consistently left the premises during scheduled procedures or failed to appear, forcing the prosecution to seek a mandate for detention to ensure the charges are formally presented.

Legal Basis for the Request

While the European Parliament previously authorized criminal prosecution, the Prosecutor’s Office maintains that a separate, explicit authorization is required to apply coercive measures such as detention or arrest. The prosecution argues that Braun’s conduct reflects a disregard for the Polish legal order and the principle of equality before the law.

Legal doctrine remains divided on whether a general waiver of immunity automatically encompasses coercive measures. To avoid procedural ambiguity, the Prosecutor General has instructed that every future immunity waiver request must be accompanied by an application for detention to prevent further obstruction of justice.

Criminal Charges and Ongoing Proceedings

The Wrocław District Prosecutor’s Office is investigating six separate acts involving Grzegorz Braun. Four of these incidents occurred in April 2024 at the Powiatowy Zespół Szpitali in Oleśnica, where Braun allegedly detained and insulted Dr. Gizela Jagielska, claiming to be performing a “citizen’s arrest.”

Additional allegations include the destruction of public posters in Opole and the incitement to commit crimes via online broadcasts. Braun is also currently facing a separate trial in Warsaw for incidents including the use of a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles in the Sejm and an alleged altercation at the National Institute of Cardiology in 2022.