Viktor Orbán’s government’s role as a “bag holder” for Russia amounts to treason, Peter Magyar, leader of Hungary’s Tisza opposition party, has warned.
Magyar, who is leading opinion polls ahead of elections that could unseat Orbán in the coming weeks, has accused Péter Szijjártó, the Hungarian Foreign Minister, of betraying his country to Russia, an explosive charge in Hungary.
Newly released transcripts and audio recordings appear to show Szijjártó an extremely close relationship with Moscow, including exchanges where he appears to take orders from Moscow.
“Under the Penal Code of Hungary, this is defined as treason – and punishable by life imprisonment. Just saying, for the sake of clarity,” Magyar said, in comments to Euractivthe bulletin s Rapporteur.
The charges stem from a inquiry by VSquare and The Insider, suggesting that Szijjártó went beyond standard diplomatic engagement and aligned Hungarian positions with Russian interests, including EU sanctions policy.
In an exchange cited in the report, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reportedly asked Szijjártó to help secure the removal of Gulbakhor Ismailova, the sister of sanctioned Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, from the EU sanctions list. Szijjártó reportedly replied that he was working on the matter.
In another conversation, he asks “did I say something wrong” and assured Lavrov “we will do our best” to ease sanctions against Russia. “I am always at your disposal,” he said, in another exchange after a visit to Russia.
Magyar claims the minister used his “hotline” role to broadcast confidential information about Russian counterparts.
“These people – these ministers and MPs – do not represent Hungarian interests, nor European interests,” Magyar said, making accusations that are political dynamite in Hungary, a country with a tragic history of domination by Moscow.
“It has emerged that Péter Szijjártó, described as Sergey Lavrov’s briefcase, does not represent Hungarian or European interests, but instead keeps the Russian leadership informed through a hotline, passing on confidential information.”
The findings add to previous reports highlighting the Orbán government’s close relationship with Moscow. Last month, the Washington Post reported that Szijjártó had regularly briefed Lavrov on discussions taking place during EU Council meetings.
The allegations come weeks before elections in which Magyar’s Tisza party is in the running VOTING ahead of Orbán’s Fidesz, raising the prospect of ending his 16-year rule.
The campaign has been characterized by accusations of disinformation, AI-generated smear campaigns and pressure on independent media, alongside increased Review of Hungary’s foreign policy stance.
On Tuesday, Szijjártó admitted that he had spoken to Russian officials as EU ministers were weighing new economic measures against Moscow.
“Today they made a new “big discovery”: they proved that I say the same thing in public as on the phone. Good job!” it said in X.
