**Hungary’s Dramatic Break from Moscow: Prime Minister Péter Magyar Expels 10 Russian Diplomats, Ending Years of Pro-Kremlin Policy**
In a decisive break from his predecessor’s long-standing pro-Russian orientation, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has expelled 10 Russian diplomats, marking one of the most significant diplomatic actions against Moscow by an EU and NATO member state since the fall of communism. Foreign Minister Anita Orbán announced the expulsions, stating that the diplomats had engaged in activities „unacceptable for diplomats under the Vienna Convention”—a phrase widely understood to indicate espionage. While emphasizing that Hungary does not intend to sever diplomatic relations with Russia, she framed the move as a necessary step to protect Hungary’s security and sovereignty. The decision signals a 180-degree reversal from the era of Viktor Orbán, under whose leadership Hungary was widely regarded as the most pro-Russia member of both the EU and NATO, earning him nicknames such as „Putin’s pinscher” and „Kremlin agent.”
During Viktor Orbán’s tenure, Hungary became a notorious security risk for its Western allies. Russian intelligence operatives reportedly operated largely unimpeded, conducting cyber theft against the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, participating in far-right paramilitary training, and establishing the so-called „spy bank”—the International Investment Bank—in Budapest until U.S. sanctions forced its departure in 2023. In February, revelations surfaced that former Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó had leaked confidential EU meeting information to Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Viktor Orbán’s government consistently refused to unreservedly condemn Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and even blamed Kyiv and the West for the invasion. His justification—Hungary’s heavy dependence on Russian energy—has been undermined by evidence that Russian gas was not cheaper and that the Russian-backed expansion of the Paks nuclear plant will burden Hungary financially for decades.
The new government under Péter Magyar and his Tisza party, whose decidedly pro-EU platform and spontaneous „Russians, go home” chants at rallies helped secure election victory, has declared Russia a threat to national security and repeatedly criticized the war in Ukraine. Secret service expert Péter Tarjáni described the expulsions as „a serious secret service matter” that returns Hungary to the mainstream of its allies’ security policy, while Russia expert András Rácz noted that Hungary was the only EU and NATO member not to have taken such action in recent years. Former intelligence deputy chief András Telkes emphasized the gravity of expelling ten diplomats, saying it „already means war” and will help rebuild trust with NATO allies’ intelligence services.
Moscow has responded with fury, with the Russian Foreign Ministry condemning a „Russophobe lobby in Budapest” and promising a „hard and painful” retaliation. State Duma Defense Committee member Andrey Kolesnik indicated the government may consider halting gas supplies to Hungary. However, Foreign Minister Anita Orbán—ironically, an expert on Russian energy policy who wrote her doctoral thesis and a book on the subject—is well-versed in such threats. The expulsions represent a seismic shift in Hungarian foreign policy, with experts expressing surprise at the speed and radical nature of Hungary’s turn away from its former role as the Kremlin’s closest ally within the Western alliance.
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.
Forrás: https://www.dw.com/en/magyar-vs-moscow-hungary-toughens-stance-toward-russia/a-79223424.