US Edition
Hungary foreign minister discussed EU sanctions with Russia in leaked audio
Leaked audio reveals Hungary's foreign minister lobbying to delist sanctioned Russians and sharing EU internal deliberations with Moscow, raising concerns ahead of April elections.
- On Tuesday, investigative outlet VSquare released audio of Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto discussing EU sanctions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, with Szijjarto promising to help remove a Russian oligarch's sister from the sanctions list.
- Earlier investigations by the Washington Post and VSquare revealed that Szijjarto has for years provided "live reports on what's been discussed" at EU meetings to Lavrov, with his tone described as "deferential."
- Further materials show Szijjarto reported to Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin on efforts to repeal sanctions against Russia's shadow oil tanker fleet, while coordinating with Slovakia on removing individuals from the sanctions list.
- Szijjarto denounced the wiretapping as a "huge scandal" less than two weeks before the April 12 parliamentary election, while Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party blamed "foreign intelligence services" for the leaks.
- Hungary's Kremlin-friendly reputation within the EU faces renewed scrutiny as the country has repeatedly blocked sanctions against Moscow and aid to Kyiv, while Prime Minister Orban confronts his toughest election challenge in 16 years.
42 Articles
42 Articles
Before the election in Hungary, the pressure on the foreign minister is increasing. Phone calls that have been intercepted show how he is working for Russia in the EU. Brussels, however, does not want to draw any consequences.
‘I Am Always at Your Disposal’ – Hungary’s Szijjártó Heard Promising Russia’s Lavrov to Delist Sanctioned Oligarchs
In multiple leaked calls, the Hungarian foreign minister was heard promising his Russian counterpart and other Kremlin elites to work alongside Slovakia to fight EU sanctions.
The hotline between Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov has been under media scrutiny for weeks. A newly released recording of the phone call shows that Szijjártó acted in favor of the Kremlin, including in an attempt to remove the sister of oligarch Alisher Usmanov from sanctions. Other recordings have not yet been published, but the one released will clearly worsen already tense relations betwee…
Hungary foreign minister discussed EU sanctions with Russia in leaked audio
Hungary's foreign minister and his Russian counterpart discussed EU sanctions in an audio clip released by an investigative news outlet on Tuesday, days before an election that could determine whether Hungary sticks to its pro-Moscow course.
A journalistic investigation published this Tuesday by a media consortium sheds new light on Moscow’s direct influence on the Hungarian government, which translates into pro-Kremlin maneuvers in European decision-making. The information includes the audio and transcription of exchanges between the foreign ministers of both countries, Sergei Lavrov and Péter Szijjartó. In a call, the head of the diplomacy of the ultra-conservative executive of Vi…
The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergei Lavrov, in a telephone conversation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Peter Siyarto, asked him to influence the removal from the sanctions list of the sister of the billionaire Alisher Usmanov Gulbakhor Ismailov, following the audio recording of the interview published by a consortium of research publications.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 62% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
