Hungarian Foreign Minister Leaked Plans to Remove Russian Oligarchs From EU Sanctions

A leaked phone call captured Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó telling Lavrov he would work to remove Usmanov's sister from the EU sanctions list.

“According to the investigative media Vsquare, which had access to telephone conversations between the two officials, Lavrov called Szijjártó on August 30, 2024, shortly after the Hungarian minister's return to Budapest from Saint Petersburg”

Actualités Ukrinform

The revelation came days before Hungary's parliamentary election.

Actualités Ukrinform

Szijjártó dismissed the leak as a huge scandal and accused foreign intelligence services of tapping his calls.

Szijjártó told Russia's deputy energy minister he was working to repeal EU sanctions targeting oil tankers.

A coordinated Russo-Hungarian effort to roll back EU sanctions was uncovered.

Daily News Hungary

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the recordings disheartening.

The Insider summarized that Szijjártó was operating as a direct agent of the Kremlin within the EU.

“Péter Szijjártó, Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs, is accused of leaking sensitive details from the European Union's decision-making processes”

Daily News Hungary

The EU Commission expressed concern and demanded Hungary clarify.

Orban has repeatedly held up EU sanctions and blocked aid to Ukraine.

Polish and Irish leaders called the Hungarian government's actions repulsive and sinister.

The opposition in Hungary framed the revelations as a betrayal of national sovereignty.

EUalive