Hungary's Szijjártó Skips EU Meeting Amid Document Destruction Allegations
Hungary’s outgoing Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó will miss the upcoming EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg following the electoral defeat of Viktor Orbán’s government. This absence coincides with serious allegations that Szijjártó destroyed sensitive documents related to Russian sanctions at the foreign ministry. Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar accused the minister of shredding files, urging staff to preserve evidence, though the ministry claims only duplicate paper copies were destroyed. Szijjártó has vanished from public view and social media, a stark contrast to his previous activity. The controversy stems from leaked recordings suggesting he shared classified EU summit information with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and offered to help remove Russian individuals from EU sanctions lists. These leaks, which emerged during the election campaign, depicted Szijjártó briefing Moscow on Ukraine accession talks. While Szijjártó dismissed the leaks as foreign intelligence operations, the new government is scrutinizing his conduct. The situation highlights tensions between Hungary’s incoming administration and its predecessors regarding foreign policy alignment with Russia and adherence to EU diplomatic protocols.
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Hungary's Szijjártó Skips EU Meeting Amid Document Destruction Allegations
Hungary’s outgoing Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó will miss the upcoming EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg following the electoral defeat of Viktor Orbán’s government. This absence coincides with serious allegations that Szijjártó destroyed sensitive documents related to Russian sanctions at the foreign ministry. Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar accused the minister of shredding files, urging staff to preserve evidence, though the ministry claims only duplicate paper copies were destroyed. Szijjártó has vanished from public view and social media, a stark contrast to his previous activity. The controversy stems from leaked recordings suggesting he shared classified EU summit information with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and offered to help remove Russian individuals from EU sanctions lists. These leaks, which emerged during the election campaign, depicted Szijjártó briefing Moscow on Ukraine accession talks. While Szijjártó dismissed the leaks as foreign intelligence operations, the new government is scrutinizing his conduct. The situation highlights tensions between Hungary’s incoming administration and its predecessors regarding foreign policy alignment with Russia and adherence to EU diplomatic protocols.
euronews