Following media reports suggesting that Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto may have disclosed the contents of European Union discussions to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Brussels demanded on Monday that Budapest provide explanations. The German government described the allegations as "very, very serious," while Hungary's opposition labeled them "high treason."
The Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing EU security sources, that Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto "regularly" called Lavrov during breaks at foreign ministers' meetings to provide "live" reports on what was being discussed at the gatherings.
A European Commission spokesperson called this "extremely concerning" on Monday. A spokesperson for the German Foreign Office in Berlin stated that EU consultations are confidential and based on "the principles on which the Union is founded." These principles are "non-negotiable," the spokesperson said. It is now up to the Hungarian government to address the allegations, the spokesperson demanded.
Szijjarto dismissed the allegations on social media platforms as "senseless conspiracy theories" and "fake news." Prime Minister Viktor Orban countered on Facebook that his foreign minister had been wiretapped. Hungary's Justice Minister would investigate this "serious attack on Hungary," he said.
Hungarian opposition leader and top candidate in the April parliamentary elections, Peter Magyar, called the reports "high treason." According to current information, Szijjarto is "working with the Russians and betraying Hungarian and European interests," he wrote on Facebook.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on social media platform X that the reports should "surprise no one." The Polish government has "suspected this for a long time." Therefore, at EU summits, he only speaks "when absolutely necessary" and says "only as much as needed," Tusk explained. His foreign minister addressed Szijjarto directly on X: "That would explain a lot, Peter."
Budapest has been at odds with Brussels for years and maintains close contacts with Moscow. Right-wing nationalist Prime Minister Orban has repeatedly blocked EU sanctions against Russia.
Orban is currently preventing the disbursement of a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine that was unanimously agreed upon by heads of state and government in December. This earned him sharp criticism at Thursday's EU summit. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) accused Orban of a "gross violation of member state loyalty."
Hungary will elect a new parliament on April 12. According to the Washington Post article, Russian intelligence services could manipulate the election. Polls currently show longtime head of government Orban trailing Magyar.
There were already reports in October about a Hungarian espionage network in Brussels. According to these reports, Hungary allegedly pressured its citizens working for the EU into espionage activities for years. The secret agents reportedly operated between 2012 and 2018, disguised as diplomats of Hungary's permanent representation in Brussels. The head of the representation between 2015 and 2019 was current EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Oliver Varhelyi.
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