Russia

Orban promises crackdown on media and civil society, calls them stink bugs

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.

Zelensky: I know the Hungarian people are on the side of the Ukrainie and of the truth

In his New Year's greetings, the Ukrainian president highlighted that the unity of Europe must be respected " by Budapest and Bratislava.

Orban: The Christmas ceasefire is a simple but humane proposal

The Ukrainian foreign ministry commented asked the Hungarian side to stop its "immoral manipulations and using peace and Christmas as an excuse".

Hungary requests exemption from sanctions against Gazprombank, Putin signs new decree

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing foreign buyers to pay for Russian gas through more than one financial institution.

Hungarian Parliament votes to extend state of emergency

The state of emergency has been in place since May 2022, giving Viktor Orbán even more power.

Hungarian government-linked organization spends millions to sway US public opinion

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.

EPP to Orban: "Time to go"

"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.

Szijjarto goes to Russia for the eleventh time since Ukraine war

"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.

German envoy summoned over remarks on Hungary's relations with NATO and EU

Szijjártó called Julia Gross' speech "unacceptable" and said the ambassador "interfered" in Hungary's internal affairs.

Balazs Orban faces backlash over comments on Ukraine war

Viktor Orbán’s political director suggested that Hungary might have responded differently to a Russian invasion than Ukraine has.

Hungarian shell company appears in indictment of the two RT employees

Tenet Media has employed several right-wing influencers featured in Hungarian government media.

Hungarian citizen arrested on charges of conspiring to export US military grade radios to Russia

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.

Russian 'spy bank' pushes for sanctions to be lifted

The Russia-led International Investment Bank claims this would help it meet its commitments to investors and creditors.

Trump quotes Orban in his latest speech

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 Michel debunks Orbán's claims

Charles Michael responded to Orban's letter, saying: "Without Ukraine, we cannot talk about Ukraine."

Orban to visit Putin in Moscow

Earlier this week, Orbán visited Kyiv, where he urged Zelensky to consider a ceasefire to seek an end to the war with Russia.

444 banned in Russia

444. hu is the only Hungarian news site on the Russian Foreign Ministry's ban list.

Budapest mayor calls for new election after recount decision

Karácsony also announced plans for a public demonstration on Friday evening.

US contacted the Hungarian government about the Russian hacker attack, US envoy says

Pressman says this incident shows the threat that Russia poses to our allies.

Internal documents prove Russian hackers infiltrated the Foreign Ministry

An internal report, obtained by 444 shows the extent of Russian hacking operations targeting Hungary's Foreign Ministry.

New law in Hungary says toys have to be wrapped in plastic if they depict gender reassignment or homosexuality

Not only books but also other objects that depict homosexuality will be banned from being displayed in store windows.

Hungarian politicians might have accepted Moscow funds to promote pro-Kremlin messaging

Russian funds were directed towards financing campaigns ahead of the European Parliamentary elections.

Bolsonaro hid at Hungarian embassy last month

A recent New York Times investigation suggests that Bolsonaro's decision to stay at the embassy may have been an attempt to avoid facing the Brazilian justice system amidst ongoing criminal investigations.

Orbans calls for his supporters to 'occupy Brussels'

In a speech commemorating Hungary's March 15 national holiday, Orbán proclaimed his readiness to march on Brussels and the European Union.

Orbán to visit Trump in Florida

There are concerns that Orbán might use his connection with the twice-impeached, former US President to push narratives aligning with Russian interests.

Hungary tried to shield Russian oligarchs from EU sanctions

Budapest's move has cast a shadow over the impending passage of the next sanctions package at a crucial meeting of EU foreign ministers.

Orbán's son goes on secret mission in Africa

Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky recently acknowledged Orbán's involvement in the Chad mission.

EP to take European Commission to court over Hungary funds

Daniel Freund says there is a well-founded suspicion that Ursula von der Leyen has "bought Hungary's agreement to start accession negotiations with Ukraine."

Orban receives same state honour from Bosnian Serbs as Putin

In commemoration of the Day of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik, the head of the entity, presented honors upon individuals who have left an indelible mark on the republic's life.

Hungary denies extradition request for Russian linked to high-profile murder

Hungary has declined Ukraine's request to extradite a Russian man accused of involvement in the 2017 killing of a member of the volunteer Dzhokhar Dudayev battalion.

Orbán calls Ukraine war a 'military operation' during annual press conference

“There was no declaration of war between the two countries. When Russia declares war, there will be war,” the Hungarian leader explained to journalists.

Yermak suggests meeting between Zelensky and Orbán

Szijjártó and the head of Zelesky's office agreed on the importance of improving relations between Hungary and Ukraine.

Orban government attempts to ban under-18s from World Press Photo Exhibition over 'LGBTQ images'

Dóra Dúró, deputy president of the far-right Our Homeland party, had previously urged the government to investigate whether the exhibition violated Hungary's controversial child protection law.

Ambassadors of NATO member countries meet to discuss Orban-Putin meeting

Ambassadors of NATO member states and Sweden's ambassador to Budapest due to growing concern among NATO members about Hungary's deepening relations with Russia

Trump thanks Viktor Orban for endorsing him for president

Viktor Orbán urged Americans. to “call back Trump,” in an interview with former Fox News host, Tucker Carlson.

US tightens visa waiver after Hungarian passport fraud

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said the US was trying to work with the Hungarian government to give them an opportunity to correct the situation but they refused.

Putin is not a war criminal, Hungarian PM says

According to Orban, Putin’s handling of a mercenary mutiny shows he remains firmly in control.

MCC acquires Hungary's largest publishing house

Several authors terminated their contracts with Libri, fearing the Orban government would use the publishing house for their "own ideological and political purposes."

Orban says Ukraine can’t win the war

The Hungarian PM expressed sympathy for Ukraine but argued that sending them further aid will only lead to more deaths.

Hungary blocks €500 million military aid to Ukraine

Hungary will block European Union military aid for Ukraine unless Hungarian OTP Bank is removed from list of war sponsors.

Hungarian President vetoes controversial law that targets LGBT people

Hungarian lawmakers can still override Novak’s veto.

Hungary's new law enables to report rainbow families to authorities

According to the new law, citizens are allowed to report those who contest the “constitutionally recognized role of marriage and the family” and those who contest children’s rights “to an identity appropriate to their sex at birth.”

Hungary exits Russian 'spy bank' after US sanctions

The Hungarian government decided to exit the International Investment Bank after the United States imposed sanctions on three officials of the financial institution

Biden urges Hungary to welcome Sweden to NATO without delay

Gergely Gulyas, Orban's chief of staff pointed out that Sweden's involvement in an EU lawsuit against Hungary "does not help" the ratification process.

Orban's chief of staff: Putin would not be arrested in Hungary

Bloomberg reported that Hungary blocked European Union member states from issuing a joint statement about an ICC arrest warrant against Putin.

Viktor Orban: "Europe is drifting into the war in these very minutes"

Orban who is currently serving his fourth consecutive term, stated that Europe is "already indirectly at war with Russia."

Pro-Fidesz commentator: "I am rooting for the Russians"

Andras Bencsik made a clear statement on pro-government Hir TV on where he stands on the war in Ukraine, and said he has never met a person in Hungary who wasn't "rooting for the Russians".

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry says Orbán is indirectly calling for Ukraine's defeat in the war

The statement reacts to Orban's comments that Ukraine can “only fight as long as the United States supports it with money and arms."

Russian spy allegedly tried to smuggle a flash drive containing classified data to Budapest

The incident illustrates how Hungary has become a hub for Russian intelligence.

Son Russian spy chief Naryshkin has a Budapest address

The Budapest property was bought in 2008 by Georgian-Israeli businessman Shabtai Michaeli who is linked to PM Viktor Orbán’s spin doctor, Árpád Habony.