War in Ukraine
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While Hungary’s prime minister voted for EU sanctions against Russia, he has refused to deliver weapons and his powerful media empire continues to fuel pro-Kremlin propaganda.
To the cries of “Long live Ukraine!” and “Putin, Orbán, get the hell out!” several thousand Budapesters protested Tuesday evening against the invasion of Ukraine but also against the allegiance of their Prime Minister to Moscow. At the call of the opposition, they gathered in front of a majestic Austro-Hungarian building on the banks of the Danube, the headquarters of the mysterious International Investment Bank (IIB), in which Russia is the majority shareholder. This former Soviet bloc bank, which financed trade between brotherly countries, moved to Budapest in 2019, at the invitation of Viktor Orbán. Hungary, the second largest shareholder, offered the premises, diplomatic immunity and Schengen visas to all staff suspected of indulging in hobbies other than balance sheets. Because the director of the BII, Nikolay Kosov, heir to a dynasty of spies, is an agent according to Western intelligence services. “This bank is a nest of spies, Orbán serves Putin’s interests!” was indignant Péter Marki-Zay, candidate of the united front of the opposition to the legislative elections of April 3.
The BII, which financed a Hungarian oligarch close to Orbán, illustrates the pro-Russian tropism of the strongman of Budapest, who, while maintaining his country in the European Union, …