Vsquare: Orban's secret service to blacklist NGOs and media outlets

The move signals a dangerous escalation in the government’s further crackdown on independent civil society and press freedom.
The move signals a dangerous escalation in the government’s further crackdown on independent civil society and press freedom.
The new bill bans the Budapest Pride event and authorizes facial recognition technology to identify participants.
Hungary's far-right prime minister Viktor Orban vowed to crack down on those who are - according to him - funded by foreign actors, likening them to insects.
The new measures would allow the expulsion of Hungarian citizens who also hold another nationality if their actions endanger “national sovereignty”
The other 26 EU states issued a separate statement on support for Ukraine.
Hungary’s government plans on relocating the annual Budapest Pride to a closed venue for "child protection"
TEFI members – 444, Bellingcat, Gazeta Wyborcza, PressOne, and SME – categorically reject this defamatory campaign, which targets one of the last bastions of democratic institutions: the independent press.
Szijjártó says that Trump’s return to power had created a “new global political reality” that aligns with Hungary’s interests.
"International conference with an American icon: go Tucker Carlson!" - Viktor Orbán wrote on his social media with a photo showing him boarding a plane.
The Hungarian PM believes "the world owes a debt of gratitude" to Trump for "putting an end" to the US' main overseas aid agency.
Szijjarto thinks "European politicians are frustrated because they know that not only do they remember what they said about Trump, but Trump remembers what they said about him."
Budapest is set for a dramatic transformation, with plans unveiled for the "Grand Budapest" Europe's tallest skyscraper.
According to Politico, the Hungarian leader will "not be able to make it" to the ceremony.
“Antal Rogán is a primary architect, implementer, and beneficiary of this system of corruption," US Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman said during a news conference.
In his New Year's greetings, the Ukrainian president highlighted that the unity of Europe must be respected " by Budapest and Bratislava.
"If any European politician opens towards Russia, they will violate the united approach, which is not in our favor."
The Ukrainian foreign ministry commented asked the Hungarian side to stop its "immoral manipulations and using peace and Christmas as an excuse".
Hungarian agents allegedly searched hotel rooms, tapped phone calls, and monitored the movements of EU officials.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing foreign buyers to pay for Russian gas through more than one financial institution.
A think tank close to the Orban administration called XXI Century Institute, held a commemorative conference to mark the 90th anniversary of Csurka's birth.
According to Szijjarto, we have to face a completely new reality, which his EU colleagues are "not ready to accept".
The state of emergency has been in place since May 2022, giving Viktor Orbán even more power.
"The biggest comeback in U.S. political history! Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his enormous win. A much-needed victory for the World!, " the Hungarian leader posted on X.
Just got off the phone with President Donald Trump. I wished him the best of luck for next Tuesday. Only five days to go. Fingers crossed," the Hungarian Prime Minister wrote.
Danube Institute, an Orban adjacent think tank in Budapest has paid more than $1.64 million to its foreign partners over the past three years.
"It’s time to bring Hungary back closer to Europe and allow it a chance to recover from the consequences of poor leadership," said the EPP's account on X.
"The Foreign Minister of Hungary today travelled to Russia for the 11th time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine – in pursuit of profit not peace," US Ambassador David Pressman wrote on X.
Szijjártó called Julia Gross' speech "unacceptable" and said the ambassador "interfered" in Hungary's internal affairs.
Viktor Orbán’s political director suggested that Hungary might have responded differently to a Russian invasion than Ukraine has.
The Danube is expected to surge to its highest levels in a decade.
"He said the most respected, most feared person is Donald Trump," replied the former US President when Kamala Harris stated that world leaders are laughing at him.
Tenet Media has employed several right-wing influencers featured in Hungarian government media.
The arrested man's mother previously worked as the head of the office for a Hungarian Foreign Ministry-affiliated company. She was also the official supplier of Motorola communications equipment to the Russian Interior Ministry.
Hungary's pro-government media machine has recently launched a massive smear campaign against 444.hu and Bellingcat (NL), while also targeting their international partners, PressOne (RO), Gazeta Wyborcza (PL), and SME (SK). These outlets cooperate in a cross-border journalistic project, The Eastern Frontier Initiative (TEFI) covering regional security, co-financed by the European Commission.
The Russia-led International Investment Bank claims this would help it meet its commitments to investors and creditors.
In contrast, Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance, has previously praised Orbán and his government’s policies.
Orbán adjacent institutions have formed alliances with U.S. anti-immigrant groups linked to white nationalist John Tanton, according to a report by the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism.
According to the former US president, Orban said, “Russia was afraid of him. China was afraid of him. The whole world was at peace.”
Charles Michael responded to Orban's letter, saying: "Without Ukraine, we cannot talk about Ukraine."
Orban did not request a bilateral meeting with Biden, but flew to Florida to meet Trump.
Earlier this week, Orbán visited Kyiv, where he urged Zelensky to consider a ceasefire to seek an end to the war with Russia.
444. hu is the only Hungarian news site on the Russian Foreign Ministry's ban list.
"Make America Great Again", with a bit of modification: Make Europe Great Again.
Karácsony also announced plans for a public demonstration on Friday evening.
Obajtek is currently under investigation in several corruption cases in Poland.
Momentum politician Anna Donath criticized Orban's comments for their racist tone on Facebook, calling them "hateful sentences, hateful thinking, hateful rants."
Pressman says this incident shows the threat that Russia poses to our allies.
An internal report, obtained by 444 shows the extent of Russian hacking operations targeting Hungary's Foreign Ministry.
The Hungarian Prime Minister said that Hungary supports all initiatives to end the Russian-Ukrainian war, including the Chinese "peace plan".
Not only books but also other objects that depict homosexuality will be banned from being displayed in store windows.