Controversial Polish politician Grzegorz Braun appears in Vilnius during Lithuanian Poles parade

Controversial leader of Poland’s Confederation of the Polish Crown party, Grzegorz Braun, arrived in Vilnius on Saturday amid the annual Lithuanian Poles parade, LRT.lt reports.

Braun, known for his divisive rhetoric, emerged in the capital just as the traditional march—marking Polish Flag Day—began along Gediminas Avenue, where thousands gathered waving Lithuanian and Polish flags. Speaking to LRT.lt, he framed his visit as a celebration of shared heritage, recalling his past work in Vilnius as a filmmaker documenting “our common history.”

“Every decent Pole has half their heart here and a second lung,” Braun stated, invoking the historical Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. “Let’s return to the traditions of our shared civilization that flourished so beautifully in the Republic of Both Nations.”

**Criticism of Lithuania and Poland’s governments**
When pressed on his previous derogatory remarks about Lithuania, Braun claimed he speaks “sincerely” about the “current state of our two countries falling far below the needs and expectations of both nations.” He argued that existing political structures fail to serve Polish or Lithuanian interests, warning of demographic decline as a “withdrawal from history’s stage.”

His sharpest criticism targeted both governments’ stance on the war in Ukraine. “Both Vilnius and Warsaw are fueling war, which is not in the honest interests of Poles or Lithuanians,” Braun declared. “I, meanwhile, advocate for peace, for de-escalation—not escalation. We cannot allow our nations to be pushed into conflict.”

Challenged on why he wasn’t fighting on the Donetsk front if he opposed Western support for Ukraine, Braun retorted: “Madam, why do I see *you* in Vilnius and not on the Donetsk frontline? If you believe what you say, go there and fight. But don’t push Poles or Lithuanians toward collective suicide for what I consider false goals.”

**Diplomatic tensions and Belarus opposition**
Invoking the principle of reciprocity, Braun questioned whether Lithuanians would appreciate foreign figures being presented as their “legitimate government” in other capitals. He dismissed Western backing for Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya as a “traveling circus” and a “political project,” stating: “I wouldn’t want others to promote people whose status raises doubts in my own country.”

The parade itself proceeded without major incidents, though Braun’s presence underscored lingering political friction between the two nations.