Hungarian law enforcement has taken into custody four individuals, including Aron Orbán, the brother of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, in connection with an alleged people-smuggling operation. The arrests were carried out jointly by police and the national asset protection and recovery office, Hungary’s anti-corruption agency. The detainees are suspected of facilitating the passage of more than 100 Vietnamese citizens to western Europe, allegedly obtaining visas through Hungarian foreign missions in Vietnam in exchange for fees during 2024.
Prime Minister Magyar, who took office in May after winning an election victory in April, announced the arrest while delivering remarks in Berlin. He stated that three former ministers from Orbán’s administration are already in custody on separate corruption charges. Magyar has made anti-corruption efforts a centerpiece of his administration, establishing the national asset protection and recovery office as an independent body tasked with investigating potential abuses of public funds during the previous government’s tenure.
Former Prime Minister Orbán responded to his brother’s detention by characterizing the action as a “political witch-hunt” on social media, claiming he is the actual target of the investigation. He asserted that his brother is being used as a means to reach him. Orbán and his Fidesz party have denied all allegations of corruption and wrongdoing.
The arrest marks the latest in a series of high-profile enforcement actions against individuals linked to the former administration. Three former ministers from Orbán’s government have previously been detained on separate corruption-related charges in recent months, including György Matolcsy, the former central bank governor. All have denied the accusations against them. A lawyer representing Aron Orbán stated there was no basis for his arrest.
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