The ceremony came after controversial Polish politician Grzegorz Braun, a member of the far-right Confederation party, had removed the Ukrainian flag on Tuesday — a deed he announced on social media.
Authorities said the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag's presence beside the red-and-white Polish national flag symbolized solidarity, particularly in light of ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Local and regional officials, led by Małopolska Province Governor Krzysztof Jan Klęczar, were present for the reinstallation of the flag, alongside Piotr Dobosz, head of the Kościuszko Mound Committee.
Those attending the ceremony also included Viacheslav Voinarovskyi, the Ukrainian consul in Kraków.
In his speech, Voinarovskyi thanked Poland for its steadfast support and solidarity, stating that the flags represent not only the battle for Ukraine’s sovereignty but also a broader civilizational choice for Europe.
Klęczar, meanwhile, said that the flag was displayed in accordance with legal norms and with full consent from the site’s managers, insisting that such symbols should be respected and not subjected to attacks or damage.
Klęczar criticized Braun's actions as cheap political posturing, detrimental to national and international respect.
He condemned such behavior as unworthy of a Polish lawmaker, describing it as intended to destabilize international relations.
He also reported that documents were being prepared to potentially charge Braun with a crime, with notifications sent to the relevant parliamentary committees.
Braun is known primarily for his not infrequently outrageous publicity-seeking acts.
During the ceremony, Dobosz recalled the unanimous decision to display the Ukrainian flag as a gesture of solidarity. He linked this action to the legacy of Polish liberty hero Tadeusz Kościuszko (1746-1817.
"This is also a fight for our own freedom," Dobosz remarked, stressing the symbolic unity between the struggles of Ukraine and Poland.
Gen. Kościuszko, a military leader and statesman, is revered in Poland for his role in the country's military struggle against Russian imperial rule. A contemporary and close friend of Thomas Jefferson, he is also regarded as a national hero in the United States, in recognition of his service in the American Revolutionary War.
Kościuszko Mound, completed in 1823, is one of four artificial hills constructed in Kraków to commemorate historical figures.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP