Hungarian law-enforcement authorities have opened an investigation into former Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó. The country’s new government intends to examine his alleged ties to Russia.
Prime Minister Péter Magyar promised such an inquiry during the election campaign, when he publicly accused Szijjártó of treason.
At a July 16 news conference, Magyar confirmed that the investigation was already underway but declined to disclose any details.
“There are classified documents, documents from the Foreign Ministry and others. When information becomes available, we will let you know,” the prime minister told reporters.
A series of journalistic investigations prompted the inquiry. Their authors alleged that Szijjártó and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov maintained a permanent unofficial channel for exchanging information.
The journalists claimed that Moscow may have obtained confidential information about internal European Union affairs through the former Hungarian foreign minister. They also reported that Lavrov had asked Szijjártó to help lift sanctions against Alisher Usmanov’s sister. The restrictions were subsequently removed.
Szijjártó led Hungary’s Foreign Ministry from September 2014 until May 2026. Before taking the post, he served as the personal representative of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
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