Lithuania’s state security warns Polish politician’s activities may conflict with national interests

Lithuania’s State Security Department (VSD) has assessed that the activities of controversial Polish politician Grzegorz Braun may be incompatible with the country’s national security interests, LRT reports.

While the VSD stated it has no intelligence indicating Braun’s planned visit to Vilnius poses a direct threat, his “actions and statements could undermine Lithuania’s national security and should be evaluated for potential risks to public order.” The assessment was shared with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vilnius City Municipality, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Police Department—agencies responsible for maintaining public safety.

Braun, a far-right member of the European Parliament from Poland’s Confederation of the Polish Crown party, had requested permission from Vilnius authorities to hold a May 1 event near the Adam Mickiewicz monument. Known for his eurosceptic and anti-Ukrainian views, Braun has drawn criticism for provocative acts, including extinguishing a Jewish religious candle in Poland’s parliament—a move widely condemned as antisemitic.

Vilnius officials sought the VSD’s evaluation due to concerns over Braun’s history of controversy. “We believe it is necessary to assess these organisers and potential threats to state or public security that may arise from their event,” a municipality spokesperson said. Without explicit security objections, the city will process the permit request under standard legal procedures.

The event was initially set to take place at the Vilnius Culture and Spirituality Centre, managed by a Franciscan monastery, but the reservation was later cancelled. The monastery clarified it had no prior knowledge of the political nature of the gathering and denied any ties to Braun.

Braun’s party previously announced plans to participate in Vilnius’s May 2 parade marking the Day of Poles Abroad, though it remains unclear whether Braun himself will attend. His past remarks about Lithuania include calling it a “small, empty, ugly, anti-Polish, Bismarckian, Anglo-Saxon, and Jewish entity” unworthy of Polish military defence and urging a halt to the “Lithuanisation” of Vilnius.

A vocal opponent of EU policies, LGBTQ+ rights, and Poland’s support for Ukraine, Braun has also advocated against what he terms the “Ukrainisation of Poland” and criticised the presence of Ukrainian immigrants and refugees in his country.