Orban orders probe into alleged wiretapping of foreign minister

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has instructed Justice Minister Bence Tuzson to investigate reports of alleged wiretapping of Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. He announced the move on Facebook, saying that eavesdropping on a member of the government would constitute a serious attack on Hungary. He was responding to reports in the pro-government press that the foreign minister may have been under surveillance.

The Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing a European security official, that Szijjarto had regularly made phone calls during breaks at EU meetings to provide his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov with ‘live reports on what was discussed’ and possible solutions.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk responded by saying that reports suggesting people in Orban’s entourage had briefed Moscow on EU meetings should surprise no one.

The newspaper also reported that Russian intelligence services had allegedly suggested a way to ‘fundamentally change the entire basic framework of the election campaign’ in Hungary by ‘staging an assassination attempt’ on the Hungarian prime minister.

Peter Magyar, leader of the non-parliamentary Tisza party, described the minister’s alleged actions as treasonous.

(max)