Hungary does not condemn Russian police’s violence against protesters

Hungary was the one to hinder the joint statement of the European Union condemning the violence of the Russian police against protestors.

Member States of the EU had the intention to condemn violence carried out by the Russian police against protesters standing up for Alexei Navalny and protesting against his arrest, writes telex.hu.

The statement, however, was only signed by 26 countries, and Hungary is not one of them

Szabad Európa noticed this. According to the news site, signing the statement by all countries would have been crucial for the EU to put the question on the agenda of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in its session on Thursday. “As this initiative seems to be failing, the United States will bring the issue up during the Vienna session,” they write.

The statement reaffirms that “everyone has the right to peaceful assembly” and that “journalists and media actors should be able to do their job of reporting”. Those who signed the document “urge the Russian authorities to immediately release those who have been arbitrarily detained” and “to set Mr Navalny free”.

Last Saturday, protesters in Russia hit the streets in hundreds of cities.

3,800 people have been detained, among whom many are journalists.

Videos have been circling on the internet of the violence committed by the authorities, for instance, how a woman was kicked in the stomach by a member of the special forces.

Navalny is one of the most well-known Russian opposition politicians, the main critic of Vladimir Putin. According to Russian authorities, he has been detained for possible violation of the conditions of his suspended jail sentence. If found guilty, he can be sentenced to three and a half years of prison.

The Russian prison services demanded the return of Navalny, and when the politician said that he would indeed travel back from Berlin to Russia, the country announced that he would be detained once he crosses the border. It did happen so. Last Friday, Navalny sent a message from his detainment saying that he does not plan on committing suicide and that he is in good health, referring to a possible scenario that if he were to die suddenly, everyone can freely suspect foul play.

Hungary is being careful when it comes to relations between the two countries, as co-operation on many levels is important for the small Central European country, especially in these times of a global pandemic when Russian vaccines used in Hungary are gaining more importance than before. 

russian vaccine
Read alsoHungary purchasing enough Russian vaccine to inoculate one million

Source: Szabad Európa

10 Comments

  1. Not surprised at all. Present Russia is Orbán’s Hungary in a near future. How can the Hungarian despot condemn what his own autocratic regime is likely to be doing next?

  2. Mario should be transported immediately to Russia where he can enjoy an all-expenses holiday in Siberia to get some long-overdue rest and recreation.

    Several sessions with a psychiatrist should also be on the agenda so that he can obtain therapy for his aggressive attitude.

  3. The nearer we come to the National Elections in 2022, it will be interesting to watch the citizens behaviour to the present Governments ideas and philosophies, there reactions to criticism or public Objection.
    It is a precarious position that the present Government find itself, the major mounting problems and questions they have before them, to address and action, and to ensure decisions that they make, are supported by citizens.
    The present disclosed and undisclosed Political agenda of our current Government, the ripples of concerns by citizens and other Political Parties, does appear to be heading for exciting times.
    It is hoped there will be the avoidance of the fragmentation and increasing division in the citizens and that a movement is seen by Government to take a “middle ground” position going forward, without “crushing” citizen and other Political parties opinions because of Criticism and Objection, that could have high degrees of Factuality in there agendas.

  4. It is a major mistake not to condemn oppression regardless where it occurs. What is the upside for this stupid position for Hungary?

  5. Perhaps some governments are more secretive than others but we all know, no government will ever
    be open about it’s actions.
    What do you guys think diplomacy is all about?
    All politics are dirty. It is just that some politicians have more refined methods than others.

  6. If condemning police reaction to “protests” is a “good” thing then why has EU not condemned the police reaction to the following
    1 The French riots by the Yellow vests. (these were on a much larger scale than these in Russia)
    2. The violence against anti lockdown protests in Germany
    3 The violence towards UK citizens trying to mark the Annual Remembrance salute in London
    5 The gross over reaction by putting 25,000 national guards in Washington so that Biden can be sworn it.
    6 Police Reaction to Hong Kong protests or
    7 the forced labour camps for muslims in China
    Just asking!

  7. Hungary’s current government has always been clear that they don’t stick their nose in other countries internal affairs but encourages communication over violence in solving those issues. Unlike other countries and the EU council sticking their noses constantly into every little issue going on in Hungary’s internal affairs. The worst are the hypocritcal views posed by Macron against riots in China, etc…

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