politics

Far-Right MEP Braun Charged Over Hanukkah Incident, Others

Extreme right-wing Polish MEP Grzegorz Braun has been indicted on seven charges by the Warsaw District Prosecutor's Office for extinguishing Hanukkah candles in Poland's parliament and sparking outrage. Elected to the European Parliament in 2019, Braun had been immune to prosecution, but he was stripped of that protection in May by a vote of fellow MEPs.

By Kamil Wrona | Last Updated: 4 Jul 2025
The prosecutors' statement on Thursday makes clear that Braun is now being charged with new counts, but with the legal descriptions of two of the charges updated. The charges are based on a series of incidents in recent years that have drawn national and international criticism.

Charges Range From Disturbing Religious Services to Property Destruction and Public Insult
Two charges stem from a December 2023 incident in which Braun used a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles that had been lit during a ceremony in the Sejm, Poland's lower house. He is charged with publicly insulting a religious group and with deliberately disrupting a religious service.

Other accusations are said to feature Braun's interrupting of a Holocaust lecture at the German Historical Institute in Warsaw, during which he is said to have damaged electronic devices before refusing to leave. He has also been accused of cutting up and disposing of a Christmas tree outside a Kraków court.

Another two charges took place in 2022, at the National Institute of Cardiology in Warsaw, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. On Braun and a gang of unmasked associates stormed into a meeting and insulted the head of the Institute, Łukasz Szumowski. Braun is charged with making up the allegation involving alcohol consumption on the job, which prosecutors argue damaged Szumowski's reputation.

Thursday's questioning was the legal formality prior to formal charges, Justice Minister Adam Bodnar said. He added that Braun's actions had not gone unnoticed and were being dealt with within the legal system.

Antisemitism Allegations Under Separate Investigation
In addition to the charges, Braun is also currently under investigation for suspected hate speech for comments he had made during a presidential debate on April 28. In the debate, published by Onet, Braun asked, "Do Jews have too much, too much to say in Polish politics?" Comments that prosecutors say may amount to incitement to hatred and antisemitism.

Braun ran in Poland's recent presidential election, and while he was seen as a fringe candidate, he placed fourth — a result that fed fears about increasing sympathy for far-right ideologies.

Braun refutes all allegations and cites specific reasons during prior questioning in 2023 and 2024.
 

Related Posts

Polish MEP Calls Auschwitz Gas Chambers 'Fake', Faces Legal Action

Polish MEP Calls Auschwitz Gas Chambers 'Fake', Faces Legal Action

Polish far-right politician Grzegorz Braun is now facing severe legal action after he denied the fact of gas chambers in the Auschwitz Nazi death camp. His comments led a left-wing MP to launch a formal complaint that accused Braun of a crime by denying the atrocities of the war.

 

Poland Gains Support in Turów Mine Dispute

Poland Gains Support in Turów Mine Dispute

Poland could soon escape sanctions in its protracted dispute with the European Union about the Turów lignite coal mine. The Advocate General has given advice (an opinion) to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) that the European Commission unlawfully retained money from Poland relating to the expression.

Russian Ambassador to Poland Nears End of Term

Russian Ambassador to Poland Nears End of Term

Sergey Andreyev, Russia's ambassador to Poland, is said to be leaving his post in the Polish capital in "a few weeks". It is unclear if a successor will be named, particularly given the continued tensions between Poland and Russia. The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not commented on the above development as yet.

Woman Detained with Canister Near PM Tusk's Office

Woman Detained with Canister Near PM Tusk's Office

An elderly woman was arrested at Poland's chancellery after asking to see Prime Minister Donald Tusk and showing a suspicious canister. The attack came on Thursday morning and sparked an immediate response by security forces.

Slovak PM Shooter Denounces Fico as Trial Ope

Slovak PM Shooter Denounces Fico as Trial Ope

The trial of the man charged with shooting and injuring Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico kicked off in the central city of Banská Bystrica on Monday. The attacker, Juraj Cintula, said he acted because of politics, though he denied committing an act of terrorism.

 

EU Shows Support for Moldova Ahead of Elections

EU Shows Support for Moldova Ahead of Elections

EU leaders issued strong backing for President Maia Sandu and her pro-Western PAS (Party of Action and Solidarity) ahead of crucial parliamentary polls scheduled for September in Moldova at the first-ever EU-Moldova summit, held in the capital ChiÈ™inău on Friday. 

 

Advertisement

LATEST INSIGHTS

Potrzebujemy chwili Twojej uwagi

Uwielbiamy pliki cookie — zarówno te jadalne, jak i cyfrowe, które ulepszają Twoje wrażenia z przeglądania. Pomagają nam one udoskonalać funkcjonalność naszej witryny i Twoje ogólne wrażenia. Podstawowe i funkcjonalne pliki cookie są niezbędne do prawidłowego działania witryny i nie można ich wyłączyć. Ponadto używamy plików cookie w celu optymalizacji wydajności („komfort”) i wyświetlania spersonalizowanych reklam („marketing”), na co potrzebujemy Twojej zgody. Kliknij „Zezwól na wszystkie”, aby wyrazić zgodę na przetwarzanie danych. Uwielbiamy pliki cookie — zarówno te jadalne, jak i cyfrowe, które ulepszają Twoje wrażenia z przeglądania. Pomagają nam one udoskonalać funkcjonalność naszej witryny i Twoje ogólne wrażenia z przeglądania. Podstawowe i funkcjonalne pliki cookie są niezbędne do prawidłowego działania witryny i nie można ich wyłączyć. Ponadto używamy plików cookie w celu optymalizacji wydajności („komfort”) i wyświetlania spersonalizowanych reklam („marketing”), na co potrzebujemy Twojej zgody. Kliknij „Zezwól na wszystkie”, aby wyrazić zgodę na przetwarzanie danych.

Twoja zgoda obowiązuje również na mocy art. 49 (1) (a) RODO, co oznacza, że ​​Twoje dane mogą być tymczasowo przetwarzane poza EOG, w tym w USA. W takich przypadkach wysokie europejskie standardy ochrony danych mogą nie być w pełni zagwarantowane, a władze USA mogą uzyskać dostęp do Twoich danych bez skutecznego środka prawnego. Możesz wycofać swoją zgodę w dowolnym momencie.

PrywatnośćWarunki korzystania z serwisu

Możesz zarządzać swoimi preferencjami dotyczącymi plików cookie lub wycofać zgodę w dowolnym momencie za pośrednictwem naszych ustawień plików cookie. Aby uzyskać więcej informacji, zapoznaj się z naszą Polityką prywatności.