Former Hungarian culture minister detained after allegations of misappropriation
Prosecutors say 1,079 grants worth 17.3 billion forints were diverted outside the fund’s legal remit, and Hankó denies wrongdoing.
- On Monday, September 28, Parliament voted 139-0 to suspend immunity for former Culture Minister Balázs Hankó and former National Development Minister Miklós Seszták, enabling prosecutors to detain both men on corruption charges.
- Prosecutors allege Hankó misappropriated 17.3 billion HUF in National Cultural Fund grants between September 2025 and March 2026, while investigators accuse Seszták of accepting 11 billion HUF in bribes tied to state bus and construction contracts.
- Authorities detained Hankó at Budapest's National Tax and Customs Administration facility before transferring him to Kecskemét for procedural measures. Former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán broadcast the departure live, calling it a "political show trial."
- Prime Minister Péter Magyar framed the detentions as part of "Operation Purge," an anti-corruption drive aimed at dismantling systemic graft from the Orbán era. Magyar told Parliament the initiative would "close those long decades when Hungary could be held hostage by organised political and economic criminal groups."
- Political analysts observe the detentions deepen polarization between the Tisza government and the Fidesz party, which characterizes the proceedings as "arbitrary exercise of power" against its supporters and political base.
152 Articles
152 Articles
Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban could face criminal charges over the arrest of seven Ukrainian tax collectors who were transporting millions of dollars, euros and gold to Ukraine. The Financial Times reported the possible charges, citing a prosecutor's report. The case began on March 6, when Hungary's National Tax and Customs Administration detained seven Ukrainian citizens on suspicion of money laundering. They were transporting $4…
The investigation into the detention of Ukrainian Sberbank collectors in Hungary is reaching its final stage and may be the first case in which former Prime Minister Viktor Orban will be formally charged.
The former Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, may be charged for the first time, writing the Financial Times, and the case concerns the illegal detention of Ukrainian Osjadbank employees.
Orbán Could Face Charges Over Seizure of Ukraine’s €70 Million Cash and Gold Shipment
Hungarian authorities are investigating whether former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán personally ordered the seizure of a vehicle carrying €70 million in cash and gold belonging to Ukraine’s state-owned Oschadbank, a case that could potentially lead to formal charges against him, Financial Times reported on October 2.
Hungary's ex-premier is suspected of illegal detention of collectors.
The brother of the then Hungarian Prime Minister approached a Graz entrepreneur with his request. However, the latter did not want to help, but informed the DSN.
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