On August 28, at the invitation of Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin will visit Budapest to take part in the opening ceremony of the World Judo Championships. Bilateral meetings are also planned and the University of Debrecen will award Mr. Putin the title “Civis Honoris Causa” – Honorary Citizen of the University in recognition of “the major role the Russian Federation and Hungary assign to the Debrecen University in the upgrade of the Paks nuclear plant”, the senate of the university said. (Read more about the Debrecen University award here.)
Putin visited Budapest six months ago in February and he is in Hungary again! A judo fan since his childhood Putin even wrote a book about the sport with his old friend and training partner Arkady Rotenberg who is now a wealthy Russian oligarch. Mr. Rotenberg’s companies have made billions of dollars from state contracts; he also will be in Budapest.
Putin is admired by Hungary’s current leaders.
Hungary is probably the only EU and NATO member today where Putin is a desired guest. Mr. Orbán not only admires the Russian President, but he himself is often called “little Putin” in the media. Although Hungary approved the EU sanctions imposed on Russia for its actions in Ukraine, Mr. Orbán never misses an opportunity to criticize “the Brussel’s bureaucrats” for imposing them. Sounds confusing? Not if you are a Hungarian! Authoritarian Orbán has built his entire career on doubletalk, contradictory and often gibberish statements peppered with nationalist rhetoric.
Neighboring Romania is not as cozy with Russia. A couple of weeks ago it denied access to its airspace for a Russian flight that was headed to Chisinau, Moldova, with Russia’s deputy prime minister, Dmitry Rogozin on board. The plane had to divert and request an emergency landing in Belarus.
Hungarian people are not happy either. In February thousands marched opposing Putin’s visit and new demonstrations are planned. And early Monday morning, just ahead of the current Putin visit, activists from Momentum sarcastically changed street signs in Budapest, back to their pre-1989 Soviet names, to make the Russian president and former KGB operative “feel more at home” in the Hungarian capital. Hungarians also oppose the multibillion-Euro contract awarded to Russia to expand the Paks Nuclear Power Plant. Many suspect corruption.
Thousands demonstrated in Budapest against Putin’s visit in February.
Under Orbán’s leadership Hungary ha become a corrupt rouge nation and a “weak link” in the NATO alliance. For example Hungary and Serbia will hold bilateral military exercises on Serbian territory soon. The Ministers of Defense of the two countries also plan close military cooperation. Serbia is not a NATO member and maintains close military ties to Russia.
Most Canadians and Americans of Hungarian origin oppose Hungary’s uncomfortably close ties with Putin and fear that Mr. Orbán’s policy will cement Hungary’s place in the Russian sphere of influence. Many also think that Hungary is Putin’s Trojan’s Horse into the EU to break up the alliance from within.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur Co-Chair of the Hungarian Congressional Caucus wrote: “Now, inspired and supported by the Russian oligarchy of Vladimir Putin, we are seeing anti-democratic interference being perpetrated in countries all over the world. Hungarians are being agitated to fear Brussels. The campaign of fear and falsehoods emanates from Moscow. The free world need not stand by and let this happen. Freedom of expression, vigorous exercise of a free press, and higher education are hallmarks of that liberty, not subjection.”
We call on all North American delegates (Canadian and US) to skip the upcoming Diaspora Council Meeting scheduled on November 8-9 in Budapest. The Diaspora Council is financed by the Orbán Government and serves as an indirect (and possibly illegal) lobbying tool for Budapest. Participation in the work of the Diaspora Council would be an endorsement of Hungary’s pro-Putin policies.
Putin No – NATO yes. Hungarian Canadians and Hungarian Americans reject what Mr. Putin stands for.
György Lázár
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