A newly published 444.hu investigation says Áron Orbán contacted a former political acquaintance in Graz just weeks before Hungary’s 2026 election, asking whether an incoming Ukrainian shipment could be “caught” in Austria.
Áron Orbán, the younger brother of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, allegedly contacted a Hungarian businessman living in Graz on 26 March, according to an investigation by Hungarian news outlet 444.hu.
The two men had not spoken for several years. The businessman, Csongor Lászlóvári-Thoma, had previously been involved in Austrian politics and had appeared on the ÖVP’s list in a 2021 Graz municipal election, although he did not win a seat.
According to messages obtained by 444.hu, Orbán first asked how much influence his former acquaintance had in Austria before referring to a shipment travelling through the country. He then asked whether they could “catch” it.
The businessman understood the reference as concerning a cash shipment and asked for clarification. Orbán reportedly said it was a new shipment, rather than the one already intercepted in Hungary earlier that month.
The background: Hungary’s “gold convoy” affair
On 5 March, Hungarian authorities stopped two vehicles carrying around HUF 27 billion (EUR 75 million) worth of cash and gold while travelling from Vienna through Hungary towards Ukraine. Seven Ukrainian citizens accompanying the shipment were detained and later expelled from Hungary. The authorities initially cited suspicion of money laundering.
The shipment was subsequently returned to the Ukrainian bank that owned the assets, while the investigation into the money carriers was closed by Hungary’s tax and customs authority for lack of evidence of a crime.
The case has since developed into a larger investigation into the circumstances of the operation. Former TEK chief János Hajdu was questioned as a suspect over the alleged unlawful detention of the Ukrainian money carriers.
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What happened after the messages?
According to 444.hu, Lászlóvári-Thoma did not agree to help. He reportedly told Orbán that Austrian authorities could only intervene if there were grounds for suspicion and advised him to make a formal report if he had evidence of wrongdoing.
The businessman later showed the messages to the lawyer representing the Ukrainian money carriers and said he also alerted Austrian intelligence services and the Austrian People’s Party, citing concerns that someone might otherwise act on the request.
444.hu says it verified that the phone number used to send the messages belonged to Áron Orbán. The outlet also contacted Orbán for comment but had received no response by publication time.
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