Scandal Involving Hungarian Minister: Peter Szijjarto Shared Documents with Lavrov

On April 8, 2024, European journalists published a new audio recording that features a conversation between Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. This recording has become a crucial element in an investigation conducted by a consortium of European publications, including Vsquare, FrontStory, Delfi Estonia, The Insider, and the Jan Kuciak Investigative Center (ICJK). The audio reveals that Szijjarto shared confidential documents with Lavrov concerning Ukraine's process of joining the European Union.

The conversation between Szijjarto and Lavrov took place on June 17, 2024, shortly before the planned visit of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to Moscow in July of the same year. In the recording, Szijjarto proposes to Lavrov that he send EU documents through the Hungarian embassy in Moscow. This has raised alarms among European politicians, as it suggests a possible conspiracy between the Hungarian government and Russian authorities.

Investigative journalists noted that while Orban and Szijjarto officially defended the rights of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine, the Hungarian Foreign Ministry had actually conspired with Lavrov to promote the interests of the Russian minority in Ukraine. They emphasized that there is now evidence of such cooperation.

During the conversation, Szijjarto also boasted to Lavrov about his impressions following meetings with politicians in Brussels, noting that despite criticism, he enjoyed the discussions. Lavrov, in turn, confirmed that Szijjarto was skilled at negotiating with European politicians. Szijjarto also discussed with Lavrov his negotiations with the EU regarding eleven points concerning the restoration of rights that had previously been lost.

However, Lavrov quickly redirected the conversation to the issue of the Russian minority in Ukraine and how failing to meet the Kremlin's demands could negatively impact Ukraine's EU accession process. Szijjarto responded that respect for minority rights is a universal principle governing the activities of the Council of Europe, a response that, according to journalists, satisfied Lavrov.

Additionally, Szijjarto remarked to Lavrov, "Sergey, I am always at your service," which provoked outrage among some representatives of European institutions. A source close to high-ranking EU officials expressed indignation over how Szijjarto discussed pressure on Ukraine with an aggressor, pointing out that such statements are unacceptable.

Journalists also highlighted that under the terms of the negotiations, Ukraine is obligated to adhere to all its international commitments and bilateral agreements with EU member states. According to them, Szijjarto misled Lavrov, as the framework agreement does not pertain to other countries or minorities, but speaks exclusively about Ukraine's agreements with EU states.

In a further part of the conversation, Szijjarto informed Lavrov about his contacts with then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, attempting to explain the importance of maintaining an open line of communication with Russia for a quicker resolution to the war. Lavrov agreed with Szijjarto, calling Trudeau a "disaster." This indicates that the Hungarian Foreign Minister not only maintains contacts with the Russian side but also seeks to persuade other world leaders of the importance of such ties.

Moreover, journalists noted that during the conversation, Szijjarto provided Lavrov with information about potential new steps from European countries to pressure Russia. He consulted with the Russian minister on actions that could be directed against Ukraine and the EU but would benefit the Kremlin. This suggests that the Hungarian minister is actively working to promote Russian interests in Europe.

A particularly complex situation arose during the European Council summit on December 14, 2023, when leaders of European countries were to decide on the commencement of negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. While at the summit, Szijjarto called Moscow to keep Lavrov informed of Hungary's strategy. It is known that Viktor Orban left the room during the vote on the issue of starting negotiations, which was part of a pre-agreed plan. This allowed the remaining 26 leaders to reach a unanimous decision while Hungary abstained, saving face.

On March 21, 2024, the American publication The Washington Post reported that Peter Szijjarto regularly informed Moscow about the proceedings of European Union meetings. On March 23, Hungarian investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi released a transcript indicating that Szijjarto had asked Lavrov in 2020 to assist the Social Democratic Party in winning elections in Slovakia. The following day, Szijjarto confirmed that he maintains contacts with Lavrov during closed EU meetings, explaining that certain matters need to be discussed with partners outside the EU.

In conclusion, on March 31, 2024, journalists from Vsquare released a new recording of a conversation between Szijjarto and Lavrov, in which it was stated that just one hour after Szijjarto arrived in Budapest from St. Petersburg, Lavrov called him, reminding him of the desire of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov to have his sister removed from the EU sanctions lists, to which Szijjarto promised to assist.