This week, Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Office initiated an investigation against Transparency International Hungary, accusing the organization of using foreign funding to influence elections. TI Hungary views this as an attempt to apply pressure. TI Hungary has already filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court, addressing the Sovereignty Protection Act and the office established under this Act.
We express our support for TI Hungary during this difficult time. We have experienced being labeled as a “foreign agent” and “undesirable organization”, and we hope our Hungarian colleagues do not face the same fate.
Transparency International Hungary has been targeted for a reason. As an organization fighting corruption and demonstrating success in its analytical work, it poses a threat to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s regime, which he has led for over 14 years.
The Venice Commission has issued an opinion to Hungary, criticizing the national Sovereignty Protection Act based on fundamental values enshrined in the Rome Convention. Additionally, the European Commission has launched an infringement process, highlighting violations of EU laws. These actions are seen as an effort to dissuade the public from any engagement critical of the government’s behavior and to distract attention from the government’s own wrongdoings.
Our lawyer notes: “The creation of the Sovereignty Protection Office and corresponding amendments to Hungarian legislation, which impose criminal penalties for using foreign funding in elections, violate several fundamental rights, including privacy, freedom of expression, and association.”
Transparency International Russia calls on the Hungarian government to stop the pressure on Transparency International Hungary and urges the international community to pay closer attention to these troubling events in Hungary. We also invite the European Commission to expedite the infringement procedure against Hungary, initiated earlier this year.
