Former Hungarian defence forces chief Ruszin-Szendi disarmed, Magyar accuses Orbán of running a mafia government

Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi, the opposition Tisza Party’s defence spokesman, said on Thursday that police had initiated proceedings against him and confiscated his weapon.

Ruszin-Szendi insisted he had not violated any regulations

The former chief of staff of the Hungarian military wrote on Facebook that he possessed the necessary permits and had complied with all relevant regulations. He said he had handed his firearm over to officers who had arrived at his home earlier in the day and presented a warrant.

In his post, Ruszin-Szendi stated that he had received “countless death threats” since joining the opposition party. He added that Tisza leader Péter Magyar had also been threatened, “but the authorities have remained passive for a year … the corrupt government is terrified; they know that it is over.”

• PM Orbán talks about armed Tisza politician Ruszin-Szendi; Péter Magyar fights back with bullet wound story

Magyar talks about mafia government

The Békés County Police Headquarters confirmed that it had launched a preliminary misdemeanour investigation in connection with an event Ruszin-Szendi attended in May.