According to a report by The Washington Post, Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Péter Szijjártó, has been in regular contact with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, providing updates on discussions held during European Union meetings.
The report cites an unnamed EU security official who claims that Szijjártó supplied “live updates” regarding the topics discussed and potential decisions made at these meetings. This practice reportedly allowed Moscow to maintain a presence in EU discussions.
Over the years, the government led by Viktor Orbán has reportedly facilitated Russia’s insight into sensitive EU deliberations, both through official channels and alleged cyber intrusions into Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These claims have been supported by several current and former European officials, including Ferenc Fress, a former head of Hungary’s Cyber Defense Authority.
The opposition leader of the Tisza party, Péter Mádjár, reacted strongly to the revelations, labeling Szijjártó a “traitor to Hungary.” He stated, “The fact that the Hungarian Foreign Minister, a close friend of Sergey Lavrov, reports to the Russians on every EU meeting is pure treason. This individual has betrayed not only his country but also Europe,” as reported by Telex.
In a related context, European intelligence agencies have indicated that, amid declining approval ratings for the ruling Fidesz party, Russian intelligence services proposed staging an assassination attempt on Orbán to bolster public support.
The parliamentary elections in Hungary are scheduled for April 12, with recent opinion polls showing the Tisza party leading by a margin of 14 percentage points.
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly expressed his support for Orbán ahead of the elections, wishing him a victory “by a large margin.”
The Hungarian Foreign Minister has reportedly been sharing updates from EU meetings with Russia, raising concerns about national security and loyalty. Opposition leaders have condemned these actions as treasonous, while upcoming elections may shift the political landscape in Hungary.