Former Hungarian culture minister detained after allegations of misappropriation
- On Monday, Sept 28, the Hungarian Parliament voted 139-0 to suspend immunity for former Culture Minister Balázs Hankó and former Development Minister Miklós Seszták, leading to their detention by prosecutors.
- Prosecutors allege that Hankó, while chairing the National Cultural Fund , mismanaged 17.3 billion forints through 1,079 grants between September 2025 and March 2026, which authorities claim helped finance Fidesz's April election campaign.
- Separately, Seszták faces accusations of accepting over 12 billion forints in bribes tied to state-owned bus operator Volánbusz and construction contracts between 2015 and 2018, according to the Central Investigative Prosecutor's Office.
- Prime Minister Péter Magyar framed the detentions as part of Operation Purge to dismantle state capture, while Fidesz leaders called the proceedings a 'political show trial' and accused the government of targeting conservative figures.
- The detentions mark a widening anti-corruption crackdown under Magyar, whose Tisza Party won a supermajority in April, though critics warn the campaign risks judicial independence by targeting political opponents.
149 Articles
149 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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