Hungarian investigative journalist alleges Orbán government's aircraft secretly flew cash and valuables out of Russia

Olha Kovalchuk - 26 March, 17:08

Viktor Orbán. Stock Photo: Getty Images

Hungarian investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi, whom the country's government has accused of espionage, has stated that government and private aircraft belonging to Hungarian officials may have transported significant sums of money and valuables out of Russia.

Source: Panyi on Facebook, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The investigator reported that such information began emerging as early as 2016-2017 in the national security services of EU and NATO countries.

Panyi stated that he was able to obtain confirmation from officials of at least six different countries that government and private aircraft from Hungary had returned from Russia loaded with cash and valuables.

The journalist clarified that his sources obtained this information not through wiretapping or surveillance of Hungarian officials, but rather by intercepting Russian officials who were speaking about the preparation of such cargo.

Panyi also expressed his conviction that the espionage case initiated against him by Hungary's Ministry of Justice on 26 March is connected to the investigation into the government aircraft. The journalist suggested that the Hungarian government may go further and bring new fabricated charges against him, for example, for preparation of a terrorist act.

Background:

On Monday, the pro-government outlet Mandiner, known for its regular involvement in information attacks against Ukraine and opponents of the Hungarian prime minister, published an audio recording of a conversation between Panyi and an unnamed woman. In the recording, the journalist said he was aware of a foreign intelligence service wiretapping Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and mentioned one such conversation.
State propaganda used this as grounds to label Panyi a spy and launched a campaign of harassment against him.
On 23 March, Panyi published a transcript of a 2020 conversation between Szijjártó and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, from which it emerges that he asked for help in getting Robert Fico's party to win elections in Slovakia.

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