The Prosecutor General of Poland, Waldemar Żurek, has officially requested the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, to grant permission for the arrest and forced escort of MEP Grzegorz Braun. This formal appeal was published on the website of the National Prosecutor’s Office of Poland. The move marks a significant escalation in the ongoing legal investigation into the politician, who is widely recognized for his pro-Russian stances and inflammatory rhetoric.
The request is tied to a criminal investigation conducted by the District Prosecutor’s Office in Wrocław. Polish authorities claim to have amassed substantial evidence to formally press charges against Braun. The allegations against the MEP cover a wide spectrum of offenses under the Polish Criminal Code, including illegal detention, defamation, insulting public officials, destruction of property, assaulting a civil servant, and incitement of hatred.
This legal battle has been developing for some time. In June 2025, the Polish prosecution first moved to strip Braun of his parliamentary immunity, a request the European Parliament approved in November 2025. However, under EU parliamentary regulations, the removal of immunity for investigation does not automatically grant the right to arrest or forcibly detain a sitting member; specific authorization for such measures is required.
Throughout the investigation, prosecutors allege that Braun and his legal team have actively sought to obstruct the process. The MEP was summoned for questioning five times, yet repeatedly failed to comply with procedural requirements or walked out of sessions without permission. Prosecutors have cited these actions as a deliberate attempt to derail the investigation.
Grzegorz Braun has frequently made headlines for his provocative actions, including acts of desecration against Ukrainian state symbols and the public disrespect of the European Union flag. Such behavior has put him at odds with the core values of the European institution he represents. By seeking this authorization, the Polish authorities are attempting to demonstrate that political status does not equate to immunity from the consequences of criminal behavior.
The European Parliament is now tasked with reviewing the prosecutor’s request. A decision to authorize the arrest would be a landmark moment, potentially setting a precedent for how the EU handles members accused of serious criminal misconduct. As the deliberation process begins, the case against Braun serves as a litmus test for the limits of political immunity within the European Union.