Russia

BREAKING: Hungarian foreign ministry was aware of Russian cyber attacks, insider documents prove

Orbán Putin visit Russian cyberattack eu border controls

A friendship based on trust? Internal documents prove that the Hungarian foreign ministry was aware of Russian cyber attacks after it emerged two years ago that Vladimir Putin’s hackers had attacked the Hungarian foreign ministry’s IT network.

Orbán Putin visit
A friendship based on trust? The foreign ministry was aware of the Russian cyber attacks in 2022. Photo: www.facebook.com/OrbánViktor

444.hu has presented new documents proving that Russia’s military and civilian intelligence services have carried out a large-scale cyber attack against the Hungarian foreign ministry’s systems. Two years ago, the foreign ministry and several pro-government politicians simply denied that this had happened, describing the information as “campaign lies” (the parliamentary elections took place two years ago in Hungary, in 2022).

The Russians stole invaluable national security data from foreign ministry computers

In March 2022, Direkt36 revealed that Russian secret services had carried out a large-scale cyber attack against the IT network of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. At the time, the Foreign Ministry responded by saying,

“We do not address campaign lies”.

Direkt36 journalist Szabolcs Panyi reconstructed the Russian intelligence operation against Hungarian diplomacy with the help of background conversations. He described how Putin’s hackers broke into the foreign ministry’s computer network and internal correspondence and gained access to everything there. The ministry and several Fidesz politicians clearly denied the news portal’s reports.

However, according to internal documents seen by 444.hu, it is clear not only that these attacks took place, but also that the foreign ministry knew about them. A letter from the head of one of Hungary’s secret services clearly describes the scale of the Russian cyber attacks and makes clear who the perpetrators are. (Check out the documents in 444.hu’s article HERE.)

The then Director General of the Hungarian National Security Service (Nemzetbiztonsági Szakszolgálat, NBSZ), Lieutenant General Hedvig Szabó, gave a report on the state of the foreign ministry’s IT network at the end of September 2021. In the letter, she described that

“due to the total exposure, more than 4000 workstations and more than 930 servers have become unreliable”.

Russian cyber attacks: The intruders are known

This reveals that the hackers could have seen emails, files, personal data of foreign ministry staff and a host of other sensitive information. It also clearly describes who the hackers were who attacked the Hungarian diplomatic IT system:

“The recent attacks have been linked by attack attributes to the APT 28 (Russian, GRU) and APT 29 (Russian, FSB or SVR) groups.”

The abbreviation APT refers to the English term advanced persistent threat. It is used to denote hacker groups, typically state or government-funded. GRU is an acronym for the Russian General Reconnaissance Directorate, the military intelligence service. FSB is the Russian Federal Security Service, Russia’s most extensive domestic intelligence service, and SVR is Russia’s foreign intelligence service.

“Best national security system in Europe”?

Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó and Russian Sergei Lavrov
The Russian cyber attacks have not affected the friendship of Lavrov and Szijjártó. Photo: FB/Szijjártó

A few days ago, Viktor Orbán said that “We have the best national security system in Europe, both in terms of technical and human capabilities”.

On Monday, 13 May 2024, 444.hu asked Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó how, if what Viktor Orbán said was true, it was possible that Russian secret service hackers were able to penetrate the ministry’s system and steal huge amounts of data.

“I am not aware of such a thing,”

he began his answer, at a time when he did not know that the journalists were aware of the comprehensive NBSZ report on the Russian cyber attack. When 444.hu showed him the letter from the former Director General of the NBSZ, he questioned whether they legally have the documents that prove these Russian cyber attacks.

As 444.hu writes, it is important to note that they have checked their sources and verified the authenticity of the documents in accordance with the rules of the press. These documents are not covered by the Classified Information Protection Act (Minősített adat védelméről szóló törvény).

“After two years, we have gone from the government claiming that the widespread Russian cyber attack was a campaign lie to claiming that we are damaging the national interest by exposing it in public,”

444.hu writes.

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Szijjártó at Belgrade Energy Forum: Energy policy ‘must be freed from ideological debates, hypocrisy’

Péter Szijjártó

Governments have the duty to guarantee energy security while considering environmental factors, the foreign minister said in Belgrade on Monday, adding it was a “serious problem” that energy policy had been “taken hostage by ideological debates and hypocrisy”.

Szijjártó at Belgrade Energy Forum

Speaking at the Belgrade Energy Forum, Péter Szijjártó said responsible energy policy considered both supply security and environmental aspects, according to a ministry statement. European Union sanctions against Russia were an example of energy policy being moored to ideological debates, he said.

While western European countries “proudly declare that they have freed themselves from Russian crude in the past few years”, Europe had become the largest buyer of Indian crude, he said. Meanwhile, the share of Russian crude imports to India had jumped from 0.5 percent to 35 percent, he said, adding that most LNG coming to western Europe also derived from Russia.

The EU, he said, did not support capacity expansions of pipelines in south-eastern Europe on the ground that within 15 years natural gas would not be part of the bloc’s energy mix. But, he added, the national energy mix should remain a competency of member states, and “we must be freed from external pressure and consider national characteristics”.

Hungary’s government regards green policy in terms of “preserving Earth for future generations” rather than as an ideological or political issue, he insisted.

A “responsible, safe, truly carbon neutral future” may be achieved only by expanding nuclear capacities and by speeding up the transition to electric vehicle manufacturing, he said. Hungary will use its upcoming EU presidency to establish a scheme to boost demand in respect of the latter, Szijjártó added.

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Czech President Petr Pavel: Too many interests prevent Orbán from confronting Putin

petr pavel le monde interview

We have to be prepared for the fact that Russia will not be our peaceful partner, Petr Pavel Czech President said. He also expressed his disagreement with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico and said that Russia would harm Europe.

Petr Pavel: Russia will harm Europe

petr pavel le monde interview
Petr Pavel giving an interview to the French daily Le Monde. Source: Facebook/Petr Pavel

Russia will harm Europe and will not be satisfied with acquiring part of Ukraine, Czech President Petr Pavel told the Austrian daily Die Presse. In the interview reviewed by hvg.hu, he also said that he does not agree with Orbán, Fico and Pellegrini that it would be easy to declare peace in the war.

“If we accept Moscow’s terms, it means that the whole of Ukraine will remain under Russian control,” says the Czech president. He believes this would mean replacing the democratically elected Ukrainian government with a Kremlin vassal.

According to Pavel, Hungary and Russia are linked by many interests, especially economic ones, and

until the new Paks power plant is up and running, it is hard to imagine Viktor Orbán strongly condemning the Kremlin’s policies.

He said that Ukraine is only one of the issues dividing the Visegrád community (the Visegrád/V4 countries are the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia – ed.). The President said that a longer confrontation between Europe and Russia is beginning, and it will not necessarily be a military confrontation.

“They want to restore the imperial greatness of the Soviet Union, including their sphere of influence at the time, and they say so very openly. We must therefore take this seriously. We must be prepared for the fact that Russia will not be our peaceful partner,” Pavel said.

Moscow has already emerged as a “destructive force” in many European countries, spreading propaganda and blatant lies,

he added. “If we want to maintain security and prosperity in this part of Europe, we need to set clear limits for Russia. Failure to do so could lead to serious complications in the future,” said the Czech President.

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Surprising: Fidesz politician shares strongest criticism of Russia so far

Németh Zsolt Fidesz politician revolution of national cohesion

A Fidesz politician recently said something that can be considered unusual coming from the party. Zsolt Németh has previously made statements about Russia and NATO that differ from official government communications and Fidesz propaganda: however, he has never been so direct in his opposition to the Orbán direction when it comes to the conflict in our neighbourhood.

Németh Zsolt
Some strong statements have been made by the Fidesz politician about Russia and its war in Ukraine. Photo: Facebook/Németh Zsolt

Strong statements made by the Fidesz politician

“As far as the past 25 years are concerned, if we were not members of NATO now, it would probably not be Ukraine that would be defending itself against a Russian attack, but us”, Zsolt Németh began his speech at the conference of the Hungarian Atlantic Society (Magyar Atlanti Társaság) on Tuesday 7 May at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Magyar Tudományos Akadémia), Válasz Online reports.

The Fidesz politician has been outspoken before about this, but he has never been so clear to say that anyone who raises the question of NATO’s responsibility for the Russian invasion of Ukraine is not only spreading lies but is also acting against the Hungarian interest, for those who threaten Hungarian sovereignty are the Russians.

Németh: NATO is not an anti-Russian organisation

NATO Sweden Orbán Stoltenberg
Photo: FB/Orbán

“NATO, whatever President Putin’s esteemed propagandists may say, is not an anti-Russian organisation, it does not plan to attack Russia and never has, but it can protect its members from a Russian attack. Russia cannot limit Hungarian sovereignty by military means because we are a member of NATO,” Zsolt Németh said.

According to the politician, “the fact that Russia sees this defence alliance as a threat is simply proof that it wants to dominate NATO members – or at least part of NATO members – and that NATO is making this impossible. Russia’s behaviour says more about itself than it does about us,” the Fidesz politician added.

According to Németh, Hungary’s membership of NATO is of the greatest importance since we joined 25 years ago because of the war, and therefore we must take a firm stand against those efforts that seek to turn Hungarian public opinion against NATO.

The Russian-Ukrainian war did not break out because of NATO

hungarians fighting in ukraine war fegyir sándor
The leader of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Ukraine, László Zubánics (far right), visited Hungarians fighting in the eastern part of the country. Source: Facebook/Федір Шандор (Fegyir Sándor)

“Any deception of public opinion on NATO is now a direct threat to the physical security and sovereignty of our country,” he said. He added that it is part of Russia’s military strategy to use various actions to undermine confidence in NATO and the importance of NATO membership in Central European countries.

According to the Fidesz politician, “it is extremely damaging to repeat the idea that the Russian-Ukrainian war broke out because of NATO”.

Németh also said that there is no Hungarian interest in Russia being able to arbitrarily tell other countries whether or not they can exercise their rights under international law. “We must not set a precedent for Russia to tell anyone else, because then it will tell us,” he added.

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Hungarian government: Supporting Ukrainian minority in Hungary more important than ever before

Hungarian-Ukrainian youth conference Budapest Ukrainian minority

Supporting the Ukrainian minority in Hungary and the representation of their rights is more important than ever before, the foreign ministry’s state secretary for developing bilateral relations told a Hungarian-Ukrainian youth conference in Budapest on Saturday.

Supporting Ukrainian minority more important than ever

Hungarian-Ukrainian youth conference Budapest Ukrainian minority
Hungarian-Ukrainian youth conference in Budapest on 11 May 2024. Photo: Facebook/Illés Boglárka

Boglárka Illés called those two goals important, citing studies suggesting that the number of Ukrainian nationals settling and currently living in Hungary has increased to over 40,000 from a few thousand earlier.

The Hungarian government firmly condemns Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, she said.

Hungary has carried out the largest-ever humanitarian aid operation since the outbreak of the war in neighbouring Ukraine, she said. While Hungary recognises Ukraine’s right to defend itself, it provides help in every possible form to refugees fleeing the war, said Illés.

Since February 2022, more than one million people have crossed the border to Hungary from Ukraine, she said, adding that over 5,000 Ukrainian children are ensured education and safe supplies in some 1,500 schools in Hungary.

Hungary also provides support to more than half a million families in Ukraine in the form of developing and refurbishing schools and hospitals.

Support must be provided, Illés said, arguing that there should be a focus on the future “which is in the hands of our children and our youth”. She thanked Liliána Grexa, spokesperson of the ethnic Ukrainian minority in Hungary’s parliament, for initiating and organising the conference.

“The war must be brought to an end as soon as possible, and Ukraine must be rebuilt…., and young people including the participants of this current event will play a huge role in that,” Illés said.

Grexa said the idea of taking steps to improve Ukrainian-Hungarian relations had occurred to her last December and she saw an opportunity in organising a forum for young Ukrainians and Hungarians to meet, exchange their views and so start a dialogue.

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They cannot get bored: 9 June elections decide about war or peace

If the pro-war forces are allowed to keep their positions, then it must be expected that the war situation is here to stay for many years, the foreign minister told journalists ahead of the ruling parties’ election meeting in Vác, on the outskirts of Budapest, on Friday.

Europe is in a situation that is new to most Europeans, which is that there is a war on the continent, Péter Szijjártó said. This war is happening in Hungary’s neighbourhood and poses serious dangers for all of Europe, including Hungary, he said. The closer a country is to the war, the greater risk it faces of the war spreading further, he added.

Szijjártó warned that European political leaders were “suffering from war psychosis”, and that their “irresponsible remarks and decisions carry the risk of the war spreading further”.

“We’ve even heard some completely mad positions, not only about sending European troops to Ukraine, but also about installing nuclear weapons,” he said.

Szijjártó said that if just one more European country got involved in the war, it would trigger a threat of a world war, arguing that this other country would certainly be a NATO member, and a NATO country getting into a direct conflict with Russia “would obviously result in the outbreak of another world war”.

Deciding about war or peace

He said that on June 9, European citizens would get to decide whether they want war or peace. A responsible decision could prevent the threat of a world war and a nuclear war, the minister said, adding that Hungary was the only country that clearly stood up for peace, and a pro-peace decision by Hungarians could provide huge support against the pressure of war.

Hungary, he said, had been confronted over the last two years with every consequence of there being a war in a neighbouring country. Wartime inflation caused the country’s energy expenditures to rise by more than ten billion euros “because Brussels’s response to the war ended up being a complete failure”, Szijjártó said.

He said both the European Union and NATO were preparing for the possibility of war with a five-year fundraising and financing plan.

“They want to pour tens of billions of euros into the war,” he added.

Stopping this requires sending pro-peace politicians to the European Parliament, Szijjártó said, adding that ruling Fidesz was the only one in Hungary that represented the cause of peace, while the left was awaiting “pro-war votes”.

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Orbán’s minister: Hungary needs Russian oil, gas

Hungary is a “conservative and patriotic island in an extremely liberal ocean”, and its government is prepared to continue protecting the country’s sovereignty despite being “constantly under siege” and on the receiving end of constant attacks, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, told the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC Hungary) in Budapest on Friday.

Szijjártó called Hungary “the home of the freedom of speech and opinion”, according to a ministry statement, adding, however that the country was “under constant siege” with the use of “weapons that are mockingly called the rule of law, the freeze of European Union funds, gender propaganda and migrant quota”.

“And we here in Hungary have been successfully defending against the siege and attacks of the liberal mainstream for 14 years,” the minister said.

But, he added, the liberal mainstream could not “stomach” that every general election in Hungary since 2010 had resulted in a conservative supermajority in parliament “regardless of the formation the foreign clients lined up the opposition in”.

Szijjártó said Hungary’s economy was constantly breaking records despite it not being allowed to access the billions of euros it was entitled to. He said the explanation behind the economic records was that economic players “rely not on fake news or ideology, but their own experience”.

According to hvg.hu, Szijjártó said that the Hungarian economy could not function without Russian gas and oil because that is where the pipes come from. “Nobody can transport gas, oil in Tesco shopping bags“, he cleared.

“We took in all those fleeing Ukraine and stopped every illegal migrant”

“And my friends, despite the constant attacks, blackmail, aggressive and baseless allegations and political smear campaigns we’ve experienced over the last 14 years, we never gave up on representing our national interests or our sovereignty,” he said.

Hungarians, he said, were the only ones who had a right to decide who could or could not enter their country, so Hungary will stick to its strong protection of its borders because illegal entry was a crime and not a question of human rights.

“International law is clear,” Szijjártó said. “If someone is forced to flee their home country because of war or violence, they have a right to seek protection in the first safe country. Not the second, not the third, not the fourth, but the first safe country.”

“We Hungarians have demonstrated how this works,” he said. “We took in all those fleeing Ukraine and stopped every illegal migrant.”

“We have not given up on our sovereignty”

The minister also talked about Hungary’s thousand-year Christian statehood, saying it was Christianity that had helped the country survive every occupation, period of oppression and dictatorship.

Hungary also insists that marriage is a union between a man and a woman, that a family consists of a father, a mother and children, and that the father is a man and the mother a woman, he added.

The government, he noted, was also sticking to its position that lives in Ukraine can only be protected by securing a ceasefire and achieving peace and that weapons deliveries would only prolong the war, while sanctions have proven pointless.

The Hungarian government has also stuck to its position that the matter of energy supply was a physical one, he said.

“Our dear friends, we have not given up on our sovereignty,” Szijjártó said. “We have not given up the exclusive right to deciding on our future. We don’t accept . interference from the outside in Hungary’s internal affairs.”

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Featured image: depositphotos.com

Chinese could emerge around Paks II construction in Hungary

Paks ii nuclear power plant

It is possible that Chinese companies may also appear around Paks II. Currently, the possibilities of applying their experience in nuclear power construction to the Hungarian project are being investigated.

Will Paks II see Chinese intervention?

There is a possibility that Chinese companies may also appear around Paks II, and they are currently investigating the possibilities of applying their experience in nuclear power construction to the Hungarian project. Among other things, this is what Gergely Jákli, CEO of Paks II Plc., talked about in an interview with Portfolio.

Jákli said that when the French prime contractor for the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in England was asked about the background of the project, they were directed to their Chinese counterpart. The reason is that there are 52 nuclear power plants under construction in China and the French prime contractor has brought Chinese people into the project.

“Three giant companies cover the entire nuclear industry in China, and so we are absolutely looking at points of cooperation,” said the CEO.

Jákli also said in the interview that the sum of EUR 12.5 billion “remains in place” with the Russian prime contractor, but added that the projected costs of building a nuclear power plant in Western Europe had not been met anywhere else, so it would be “irresponsible” to say more now.

Szijjártó: Manufacturing of Paks 2 reactor vessel underway in St Petersburg

The melt trap manufactured for the new reactor blocks in Paks is ready, and another large component, the reactor vessel, is under manufacturing in St Peterburg, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said on Friday.

Responding to a question at a press conference on another matter, Péter Szijjártó said the manufacturing of those components was a “milestone”. The melt trap will arrive in Hungary in the summer, ahead of schedule, he said.

The reactor vessel, “the heart of the reactor, is where the actual chain reaction happens,” will be 11 meters high and 4.5 meters in diameter, with a 30cm wall, Szijjártó said. It will weigh 330 tonnes, he added. The reactor vessel will have to be operational for at least 60 years “in 330 degrees Celsius, under 162 Bars of pressure”, he said.

The Paks upgrade is progressing according to schedule, Szijjártó added. The start of the new blocks in the beginning of the new decade will mean a great step towards energy security, he said.

Szijjártó: Campaign against Chinese companies damaging to European economy

The close links between German and Chinese companies are obvious from Hungary, and it is not clear what they talk about in Brussels and they probably have no idea how the electric car transition happens in the real world, the foreign minister said on Friday.

The ministry cited Szijjártó as saying in response to a question at a joint press conference with Czech counterpart Jan Lipavsky that when the European Union takes action against Chinese companies, they should look at Hungary and see that the largest German and Chinese companies very closely cooperate in the car industry.

“I think that the campaign against Chinese companies is also damaging for the European economy because we can see the close interlinks between German and Chinese companies, and we can also see that certain German company strategies, whose success is also in Europe’s interest, cannot be successful without Chinese suppliers,” he said.

“It is possible to manufacture ideologies and say that something is politically unacceptable, but the facts are facts,” he added.

He said he was looking forward to the upcoming Chinese presidential visit to Hungary and added that details would be announced on April 29.

In response to a question concerning a possible Hungary-Ukraine summit, he said this could take place only after the ethnic Hungarian community in Transcarpathia gets back the rights they had had before 2015.

“Only when the rights are restored, not when promises are made, can a summit be held,” he said. “We are ready for it. Our expectations are clear, and we have submitted them in eleven points,” he added. “I am continually in talks with my colleagues [Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy] Yermak and [Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro] Kuleba, and they know what we would like, they know what we expect, and I hope at some point they will take them into consideration,” he said.

In response to a question concerning the approval of a US support package for Ukraine, he said assessing the decision should be left to US voters who will have the opportunity in November to express their opinion about what future they wish for the world in terms of peace or war.

“We sincerely hope that the decision will take the world closer to peace and not towards the escalation of war,” he added.

“We believe that weapons supplies extend the war and result in further people dying, further destruction, and whereas we are aware that this position is in a significant minority in Europe, but it still exists, and we still maintain this position,” he said.

Szijjártó said only a diplomatic settlement could end the conflict and every warring side must sit at the table for peace talks.

He reiterated that the government attributed great importance to Visegrad cooperation and there has always been more areas where the affected countries were in agreement than those where they were not in agreement. Only the current difference in opinion concerning the Ukraine war is rather striking, he added.

“I hope that all four of us will be wise enough to recognise that there are ten times more matters in which we agree (…) and we represent our position together in these because that is best for everyone,” he said.

He assured Lipavsky of his support for the decision to meet Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony later in the day, adding that it was completely normal and should not be criticised if a guest also meets other political players.

He added that he would also meet non-government party politicians during various foreign visits, as was the case recently in Prague.

Szijjártó: Hungary planning ‘real central European’ EU presidency

Hungary plans to focus during its upcoming European Union presidency on issues that are important to central Europe, such as the fight against migration, enlargement to the Western Balkans and energy security, the foreign minister said on Friday.

Péter Szijjártó told a joint press conference with Czech counterpart Jan Lipavsky that the current visit was during an extremely difficult period when the world faces severe challenges, but this could hopefully strengthen the central European common experience because the countries of the region are most affected by the consequences of the war underway in their neighbourhood.

One of the main goals of the upcoming EU presidency is to stop the decline of the community, and the other is to pursue a real central European presidency, Szijjártó said. He added that the latter meant that Hungary would focus on issues that are important to central Europe.

Special attention will be paid to the success of the fight against illegal migration, speeding up EU enlargement in the western Balkans, and guaranteeing energy security, he said.

The dramatic effects of migration waves has been directly experienced in central Europe since 2015, and serious regional cooperation has been necessary to stop the flow of migrants, he added.

“Czech, Slovak and Polish police helped us and still help us at the southern borders of Hungary to keep outside the illegal migrants threatening Europe,” he said. “The continued joint efforts of four central European prime ministers have been necessary to keep the issue of quotas under control and not allow thousands or tens of thousands of illegal migrants to roam around uncontrollably,” he added.

Szijjártó said “we will continue to resist the pressure concerning quotas”.

Commenting on EU enlargement in the western Balkans, he said it was undeserving that candidates in the region had been waiting for accession for 14 years and 11 months, which he said undermined the credibility of EU policies.

“This is a situation that must be resolved, therefore the Hungarian presidency has a clear agenda to help the countries in the western Balkans to speed up the accession process,” he said.

He also talked about energy security, stating that both countries were planning nuclear developments and therefore they would continue to stand up against negative dsicrimination concerning nuclear energy in Brussels.

“Nuclear energy is a sustainable way of producing energy, it is a safe, environmentally friendly and cheap method for producing large amounts of electricity,” he said.

“It helps maintain and improve the competitiveness of central Europe, so we do not want to give it up, and we are ready to involve Czech companies in Hungarian nuclear development projects, and we are also in a good position for Hungarian companies to ensure their presence in the area of nuclear developments in the Czech Republic,” he added.

Commenting on Hungary-Czech cooperation, he said that Czechia was Hungary’s sixth largest trade partner and bilateral trade surpassed 14 billion euros last year, a record. Czechia is also the fourth most important target for Hungarian investments.

Szijjártó recalled that recently efforts have been made to create joint ventures in the transport and defence industries and that Hungarian oil and gas company MOL operates over 300 filling stations in Czechia.

He also said that Visegrad cooperation – between Hungary, Czechia, Poland and Slovakia – has always played and still plays an important role in the Hungarian foreign policy strategy.

“Visegrad cooperation contributes to improving central Europe’s competitiveness and security, and it brings all of us closer to fulfilling our national goals,” he added.

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Guest workers: new law may simplify Chinese and Russian immigration to Hungary

guest worker workers guest workers in Hungary Orbán cabinet

Several proposals were submitted to the Parliament that would simplify the employment process of guest workers in Hungary. The amendments are said to be needed due to the increased labour demand related to the expansion of the Paks II nuclear power plant and the construction of the railway line between Budapest and Belgrade.

A number of minor legislative amendment proposals were submitted to the Parliament by the Business Development Committee, Index.hu reports. Among the possible changes, the one that is the most attention-catching is related to the expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant and the renovation of the Budapest-Belgrade railway line.

Third-country guest workers to get residence permits more easily

guest workers
Photo: depositphotos.com

As the news site writes, the amendment would simplify the process through which guest workers from a third country (that is, from outside the European Union) receive a residence permit for the purpose of employment in Hungary. The goal of the new legislation is to secure the extra manpower that is needed for the two projects as soon as possible.

Currently, based on the Immigration Act, the residence permit for workers from third countries is valid until the completion of the development they are employed in, or for a maximum of three years.

Based on the new laws, guest workers involved with the Paks II and Budapest-Belgrade projects could receive a residence permit for up to five years, and even their family members would be able to apply for a residence permit in the country through a simplified procedure.

Népszava explains that while the extension of the Paks-related permits is understandable since the reactors will be completed by 2035 at the earliest, the possibility that the construction of the Budapest-Belgrade railway line will take another five years is a surprise.

There are currently 120,000 guest workers in Hungary, but the Orbán government would consider it necessary to import 300,000 or even half a million guest workers in the coming years, Népszava reports.

Index.hu points out that Sándor Czomba, the state secretary responsible for employment policy, said in an interview a few days ago that guest workers will not displace Hungarians from their jobs.

Do the simplifications pose a security risk?

Railway Hungary Budapest-Belgrade
Photo: FB

As Népszava, who noticed the law amendment proposal, highlights, there is no legal restriction on which workers from which countries would benefit from the amendment. However, based on the background of the investments, in the case of Paks, mostly Russian workers can be expected to come to Hungary, while in the case of the Budapest-Belgrade railway line, it is mainly Chinese workers who will likely be employed.

The paper therefore states:

“The Orbán government’s proposal on simplified employment for Chinese and Russian citizens also poses a national security risk, since the secret services of the two countries are active in Hungary, for whom these laws will provide a simplified access to the European Union.”

Read also:

  • Atomexpo 2024 in Sochi: Hungarian Foreign Minister announces another milestone at the Paks nuclear power plant – HERE
  • SHOCKING: Hungary’s guest worker numbers exposed! – Read HERE

Featured image: depositphotos.com

BREAKING: Russian gas giant Gazprom may be the main sponsor of Hungarian elite soccer club

Russian gas giant Gazprom may be the main sponsor

Ferencváros won the Nemzeti Bajnokság (OTP Bank Liga, the Hungarian soccer national championships) yesterday, and Hungarian press writes that Russian gas giant Gazprom may become its main sponsor in the new season.

Russian gas giant Gazprom will give a lot of money to Fradi

Blikk, a Hungarian tabloid, wrote that it is an open secret that Gazprom will be Fradi’s main sponsor, giving billions of forints to the top Hungarian soccer club.

Gazprom is the world’s largest natural gas extractor. The Russian giant was the shirt sponsor of the German Schalke and was among the top supporters of the UEFA. However, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the club and the association terminated their contracts.

Meanwhile, the Serbian Crvena Zvezda still has the company’s name and logo on its shirts. According to Blikk’s Serbian informants, the Russian firm gives EUR 5 million to the club each season. Blikk speculated that Fradi’s support would be even higher than that sum.

Russian gas giant and Fradi
Dejan Stankovic, the head coach of Fradi after the victory. Waiting for a payrise? Photo: MTI

Game-changer: star footballer will come to Fradi?

Gazprom’s money might be a game-changer for Fradi. For example, Schalke bought Real Madrid’s icon, Raúl, with the Russian gas money they got. Blikk wrote that the Russian money might mean a star footballer may arrive soon at Fradi’s Budapest stadium on Üllői Street.

The annual budget will exceed HUF 20 billion (EUR 50 million) in 2024. In 2022, it was HUF 17,2 billion.

A sports economist, Gábor Szabados, told Blikk he would not believe that Fradi would spend the extra money on a star footballer. He believes Fradi will buy several high-quality players.

Gazprom’s sponsorship will be strange for many, and some will probably criticise it, Mr Szabados believes. Officially, however, the UEFA cannot sanction Fradi because of it.

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Expert: Aggressive Russian provocations on the Hungarian border are probable if Russia wins

Ukraine war hungarian border russia

Could Russia mean a danger to the Hungarian border’s peace? Security expert Ferenc Kaiser warns that while the chances of a full Russian occupation of Ukraine are slim, the consequences would be dire for Europe. Hungary could find itself on the wrong side of a new “Iron Curtain”. In addition, the Hungarian border would be faced with increased Russian provocations. Additionally, many ethnic Hungarians in Transcarpathia might flee due to Moscow’s harsh treatment of minorities.

As RTL writes, the chances of Russia winning the war are quite low. However, if it does happen, the aftermath would be catastrophic for Europe, including Hungary. Ferenc Kaiser, security and defence policy expert, and Associate Professor at the National University of Public Service, told RTL what Hungarians should fear if the worst does happen.

Apocalyptic outlook

Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó and Russian Sergei Lavrov
Lavrov and Szijjártó. Photo: FB/Szijjártó

As tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalate, there is growing concern about what would happen if Russia were to fully invade Ukraine. According to the expert, the situation could turn apocalyptic, with over ten million Ukrainian refugees fleeing to Europe and Ukraine itself being left almost empty.

If Russia were to take control of Ukraine, it would need a lot of people to keep order. Russia would likely try to make everyone in the area act more Russian and erase Ukrainian identity. There is even a worry that Russia might commit terrible acts like genocide or ethnic cleansing, based on past events, like what happened in Bucha.

Tension at the Hungarian border

For Hungary, this would mean suddenly having Russia as a neighbour. “We would now find ourselves on the western side of the Iron Curtain in this new Cold War,” says Kaiser. There would likely be a lot of tension along the Hungarian border, with Russia trying to provoke Hungary, as they have done with Poland, Finland, and the Baltic states.

A threat for Hungarians living in Transcarpathia?

Even though Hungary seeks constructive cooperation with Russia, the threat of aggression from Russia is still real. Many Hungarians living in Transcarpathia, a region of Ukraine with a Hungarian minority, might feel they have to leave because of how harshly Russia might treat them compared to Ukraine.

While Ukraine has had its problems with treating minorities fairly, they are nothing compared to what Russia might do. So, it is understandable why many Hungarians in Transcarpathia might choose to leave their motherland if things got bad. Thus, in addition to provocations on the Hungarian border, Transcarpathian Hungarians might also be in danger.

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Orbán: As long as we lead the country, Hungary won’t get into war

viktor orbán election campaign

As long as Hungary has a national government, it will not get involved in either side of the Russia-Ukraine war, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said at the launch of the ruling Fidesz-Christian Democrat alliance’s European Parliament election campaign on Friday.

If Fidesz and the Christian Democrats were not the ones in power, Hungary would be “up to its neck in the war”, the prime minister said.

He said “pro-war governments, Brussels bureaucrats” and the network of US financier George Soros were “sending millions of dollars” to the Hungarian “pro-war left” in Budapest. Orbán said the left wanted “a puppet pro-war government controlled by Brussels and Washington” instead of a pro-peace government.

The prime minister called for protecting the peace and safety of the Hungarian people as well as the country’s economic achievements. “We have to protect our families and especially our children,” he said.

“Just so those in Brussels also understand: No migration, no gender, no war!” Orbán said, quoting his party’s election manifesto.

“We’ve won every European election for the last 20 years,” Orbán said. “We’re the most successful political community in Hungary and Europe, so we can’t set a lesser goal. I recommend we win this one too.”

Orbán said the reason their political opponents had been unable to win people’s trust for the last decade-and-a-half was that they had squandered their integrity and “forgot about humility”. He said an election victory was just a means to serving the people, which was what the ruling parties had been doing for 14 years.

He said it was difficult to continually earn people’s trust, so in order to win, they had to be honest about “who we are”. “We’re the ones who got the Hungarian economy back on its feet after . the left bankrupted it.” Orbán said there were a million more people, including twice as many Roma people working today than under the previous Socialist governments. “We’re the ones who gave the Roma jobs . We’re counting on them again in this election,” he said.

Under the ruling parties, the minimum wage has increased 3.5-fold compared with what it was under the left-wing governments, Orbán said. Meanwhile, the average wage has tripled, the average pension has increased and the 13th-month pension has been restored, he added.

“We are the ones who reduced the number of Hungarians in deep poverty and we are the ones who will eliminate the poverty left behind by the left,” he said.

Orbán said “no lies from the left or political troublemaking can overwrite reality”. He said the size of the Hungarian economy in 2010 was about half of what it is today, so the size of the Hungarian economy had almost doubled over the last 14 years. Whereas in 2010 there were 3 million cars registered to Hungarians, today there are more than 4.2 million, and total household savings have increased to 5,500 billion forints (EUR 14.0bn) from 1,000 billion, the prime minister said.

“The truth is that Hungarians are better off today than they were under [former Socialist prime minister Ferenc] Gyurcsány, although still not as well off as we would like,” Orbán said, adding that the people were aware of this, which was why they continued to support Fidesz and the Christian Democrats in every election.

“Let’s not pretend to be modest: Hungary’s economic outlook is encouraging,” he said. “Our track record makes us the clear favourites for this election, too.”

Meanwhile, Orbán said the incumbent Brussels leadership needed to go and did not deserve another chance. Hungary’s achievements, he said, were “under threat from the direction of Europe and Brussels”.

“The strong, peaceful, free and happy Europe we love so much and longed for under communism is in decline . before our very eyes,” Orbán said.

The prime minister said the leadership in Brussels had failed, Europe’s economy was in decline and the green transition was “a disaster”. He said Ukrainian grain was driving European farmers to ruin, migrants were flooding the continent, the crime rate was up and there was an increasing amount of violence. “They want to re-educate children and turn them over to gender activists,” he added.

Orbán said the change in Brussels would not happen on its own, adding that “we are the ones who have to make it”. “We must occupy Brussels, push the Brussels bureaucrats aside and take matters into our own hands,” he said. “If we don’t do this, it won’t just be Europe, but also us Hungarians who will pay a heavy price for the incompetence and helplessness of the leadership in Brussels.”

Orbán noted that he had also launched the election campaign in Brussels this week, but the event had been banned.

He cited the text of the ruling banning the event as saying that it could not be organised because its aim had been to bring together academics with national conservative views, political and culture representatives, and also because these people “belong to the religious right”. He cited the justification for the ruling as saying that the past and future of conservatism were inextricably linked to the idea of the nation, the principle of national independence and the revival of unique national traditions.

Orbán said it was outrageous that it was not until the Belgian prime minister had said “what the correct assessment of the situation was” that a third judge approved their appeal and they were able to hold the conference.

“That’s what the rule of law is like when its Western, and despite that they’re the ones lecturing us,” he said.

Orbán said Europe was balancing on the borderline of oppression and freedom, and it will be decided at the upcoming election which way it goes.

“It appears that after saving freedom in Budapest, we have the task of saving it in Brussels, too,” he added.

“Brussels has a pro-war majority now, there is an atmosphere of war in Europe and politics are ruled by a war logic,” Orbán said. Preparations are being made for war everywhere, with the NATO secretary-general wanting to set up a NATO mission for Ukraine, Orbán said.

“European leaders have drifted into war and they consider the war their own, fighting it as their own war,” Orbán added.

He said that at first they only talked about supplying helmets, which was followed by sanctions. Initially energy was not sanctioned but eventually it was also affected, he said. Then came weapons — initially firearms, then tanks and aircraft — followed by financial support. “Further and further tens of billions, by now we stand at around 100 billion, in euros,” Orbán added.

He said the situation was not improving, but quite the opposite, with the West being only one step away from sending soldiers to Ukraine.

Orbán said it was a vortex of war that could drag Europe deep down. “Brussels is playing with fire,” he added.

“We Hungarians know what war is like, we’ve been involved in it often enough,” he said, adding that he was convinced that “we must stay out of this war”.

“This is not our war, we do not want a war and we do not want Hungary to once again become a plaything of the great powers,” he said.

“As a result, we must hold on to peace, at home, in Brussels, in Washington, in the UN, and also in NATO,” he added.

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Hungarian FM Szijjártó: Russia should be allowed to participate at the Olympics

Hungarian foreign minister war in Ukraine russia

Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, told a conference on Friday that “geopolitics should have nothing to do with sports and penalising athletes for such reasons is unacceptable”, referring to the questions surrounding Russia’s participation in the 2024 Olympic Games.

Speaking at a conference dubbed Sports Science and Innovation, the minister said it was equally unacceptable to propose that “athletes of a certain nation should not be allowed to participate at the Olympic Games”. He regretted that “war psychosis” in the wake of the war in Ukraine “has now impacted areas of life which should not be, which makes the situation even more hopeless”.

“We all remember that Olympic games used to have an undisputed role of creating peace, when sometimes athletes of countries at war hugged each other … after a game or fight,” Szijjártó said. “By now, geopolitics and ideological approaches have fully permeated the world of sports,” he added.

“Proposals that the athletes of a nation should not be allowed to compete in the Olympics are a sign that we have gone very deep,” he said, adding that he himself had opposed the exclusion of Russian athletes on doping charges well before the war in Ukraine. He said he did not support doping practices but objected to the principle of collective responsibility, adding that “perpetrators must indeed be punished but all athletes of the same nation must not be stigmatised”.

Also, he said he found it humiliating if “athletes are instructed to wear white, blue, or black only when they compete … and we don’t know what music will play if they win … if we take that line, who can tell what central powers will decide and on what criteria who can participate and whose anthem will be played…”, he said, warning against using double standards.

Szijjártó suggested that the Paris Olympics should be “used as a step taken towards peace”.

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Fuel price drama in Hungary: Experts’ outlook & Hungarian government’s possible next move revealed

Fuel Gas Station Petrol Diesel

At the beginning of the week, reports surfaced of fuel price hikes, drawing attention as Minister of National Economy, Márton Nagy, had consultations with MOL and the Hungarian Association of Petroleum (MÁSZ) regarding these rises. An energy policy expert hinted at the possibility of the government employing robust measures in response.

According to holtankoljak.hu, the wholesale prices for petrol and diesel are set to decrease from Friday onwards. Petrol will see a reduction of 3 HUF (EUR 0.0077), while diesel will become 5 HUF (EUR 0.013) cheaper for petrol stations. Consequently, average prices from the 12th of April will stand at 641 HUF/litre (EUR 1.65/l) for 95 petrol and 653 HUF/litre (EUR 1.68/l) for diesel.

Nevertheless, there is a possibility of further price cuts being curtailed, as the wholesale price of petrol is expected to rise by 3 cents gross, while for diesel, the pump price to wholesalers will rise by 6 cents gross starting today.

According to Erste’s analysis, there might be another price cap. However, there are speculations that Minister Márton Nagy might opt for a voluntary reduction in prices. Such action could potentially yield short-term negative effects on MOL, the Hungarian oil and gas company.

MOL fuel station
Photo: FB

Experts’ reaction to fuel price changes

Looking ahead, Századvég’s energy policy expert Oliver Hortay underscores the significance of the trajectory of geopolitical conflicts. He stresses three main factors:

  • Firstly, attacks on Russian oil refineries by Ukraine and events in the Middle East are key reasons behind recent rises in oil and fuel costs. Should these conflicts escalate, it could elevate geopolitical risks, while de-escalation might temper prices.
  • Secondly, forthcoming decisions from the OPEC oil cartel will come into play. Influenced by geopolitics, alongside market fundamentals like rising prices and projected demands, there’s a growing justification for relaxing quotas, which could impact global oil prices.
  • Lastly, several remaining elements could influence Hungary’s fuel price situation. These include Russia’s efforts to resolve its price disparity with Western oil, ongoing increases in transportation expenses from countries such as Croatia and Ukraine and the volatility of the forint against the dollar.

In response to inquiries by Economx, Oliver Hortay, Századvég’s energy policy expert, notes a recent uptick in fuel prices. He links this surge not only to fluctuations in the forint exchange rates but also to the global oil price. At the beginning of 2024, one USD was 345 HUF, with Brent crude oil priced at USD 75 per barrel, while Russian Urals crude stood at USD 58 per barrel.

However, by April, the dollar rose to 360 HUF, Brent crude to USD 90 and Urals crude to over USD 80. Hortay pointed out that fuel costs are mainly dictated by worldwide oil rates, which have been rising lately because of conflicts among nations. The query arises as to how much influence a Hungarian minister holds over fuel prices amid such forceful global market dynamics and events.

Oliver Hortay suggests that the government has options to address fuel price concerns through both stringent and lenient measures. Stringent measures entail regulatory adjustments like price freezes, while lenient measures involve steering market players without regulatory alterations, as seen in the phased-in implementation of new excise duty rates.

Deciding between these approaches requires considering various factors such as interest rates, geopolitical developments and market player conduct. The forthcoming meeting between the Minister of National Economy and representatives of MOL and MÁSZ adds further complexity to the decision-making process.

Read also:

  • Shocking: Taxi hyenas, drugs and licenceless drivers caught in Budapest – HERE
  • Parliament extends state of emergency in Hungary, adopts multiple pacts – HERE

FM Szijjártó: Hungary-Russia cooperation based on long, fruitful traditions

Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó and Russian Sergei Lavrov

Economic cooperation between Hungary and Russia is long-standing and successful, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said on Facebook on Thursday.

Hungary-Russia cooperation

Many Hungarian companies and their products have attracted strong demand in Russia.

“We have now consulted with leaders of Hungarian companies active in Russia, because developing Hungarian-Russian economic ties further in areas not affected by sanctions is high on our foreign economic agenda,” the minister said.

Last year Hungary’s exports to Russia continued to exceed one billion dollars, Szijjártó said, adding that “the presence of the largest Hungarian companies such as Mol, OTP and Richter in Russia could make other Hungarian companies feel secure there”.

Those companies operating in pharmaceuticals, food processing, water management, health, construction, and farming have expressed a desire to stay active on that market, the minister said, adding that the government would “provide the necessary support for this”.

Szijjártó: Europe should aid Africa’s development instead of encouraging migration

If the European Union continues to “encourage” migration instead of bringing development programmes to Africa, Europe will be “flooded” by immigrants, Szijjártó said, adding that this would lead to “unforeseeable security challenges”.

Addressing a joint press conference with Musa Timothy Kabba, his Sierra Leone counterpart after a meeting of the Hungary-Sierra Leone economic mixed committee, Szijjártó said Africa’s population was projected to grow by 750 million over the next 20 years, warning of the “enormous challenge” it would be to ensure Africans’ access to education, health care and drinking water.

“So if the European Union continues to encourage people to set off for Europe rather than taking development programmes to Africa, the EU will be flooded by migrants, and we’ll be facing unforeseeable security challenges,” Szijjártó said, according to a ministry statement.

He said implementing development schemes required responsible governments such as that of Sierra Leone, praising the country’s efforts against terrorism, its defence of security interests and openness to cooperating with Europe to retain its population.

“And we’re prepared to work together with responsible African countries, support their economic growth and support them in retaining their growing populations by improving their standard of living,” Szijjártó said.

He said Hungary was not just “paying lip service” to aiding Africa, but also following up its words with actions.

Szijjártó said a business forum held earlier in the day had highlighted food supply, agriculture and water management as the areas with the most opportunities for cooperation between Hungary and Sierra Leone.

He said Hungarian companies were prepared to contribute to food security and water supply in the west African country and had started talks on two future investment projects aimed at ensuring 300,000 people’s access to clean drinking water.

Hungary’s government is prepared to contribute to both the financial and technological side of these projects, he added.

Szijjártó also said the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences was prepared to work with its local partners in Sierra Leone to create the framework for high-quality and secure food supply.

Meanwhile, he said there were currently 84 university students from Sierra Leone studying in Hungary, noting that Hungary offered scholarships to 50 students from the west African country each year.

Szijjártó said the war in Ukraine had a “serious impact” on both countries, underlining the global problems caused by soaring energy prices, inflation and challenges related to food supply.

“And peace is the only way to prevent these dramatic effects,” he said.

“That’s why we will continue to stand up for peace efforts at international forums in the interest of bringing an end to the war in Ukraine and preventing its dramatic effects from impacting the countries and people who have nothing to do with this war and are in no way responsible for it,” the minister said.

In response to a question, Szijjártó called the migration pact approved by the European Parliament on Wednesday “the legislative body’s most dangerous decision of the last five years”.

“This decision once again proves that Brussels and the European Union are pro-war and pro-migration,” he said. “It has made it clear that a strong rightward shift will be needed in early June in order for Europe to be a safer and more competitive place.”

Meanwhile, he said Hungary and Ukraine had yet to achieve a breakthrough in their talks on the rights of the Transcarpathian Hungarian community, insisting that the government would not compromise on this issue.

ChristDem MEP: Africa’s future lies in educating youth

“Education is a long-term investment,” György Hölvényi, MEP of Hungary’s co-ruling Christian Democrats, said in Brussels on the sidelines of a conference on Thursday held on the role of the European Union in African education, adding that “Africa’s future depends on providing education to the continent’s youth.”

“It is in Europe’s interest for young generations in Africa to grow up to be a resource rather than a problem,” the MEP told MTI.

Africa needs educated young people to contribute to economic and social development, he said, adding that “assistance provided to ensure the prospect of prosperity in the homeland is especially important.”

“Assistance in place” includes aid for education and training in Africa to help young people seek out opportunities in their own homelands, he said. Education could create the necessary conditions for them to stay at home rather than opting to emigrate, he added.

The situation in Africa, Hölvényi said, was critical. Around 260 million children on the continent do not attend school, he said, adding that the United Nations World Food Programme was about making school attractive by providing daily meals there. He also warned that by 2030 Africa would need at least two million more teachers.

The churches are in the forefront of education in Africa, with 40 percent of schools run by church organisations, Hölvényi said.

He said aiding education in the long term involved a political and financial commitment, adding that “the EU and its member states cannot make things change by themselves; partner countries must be willing to participate.”

Hungary chief of staff meets EUMC head

Robert Brieger, the head of the European Union Military Committee, visited Hungary on Thursday, and met with Gábor Böröndi, the chief of staff.

At a press conference after the talks, Böröndi said the visit was “the overture to the military programme of the Hungarian EU presidency”.

Regarding the military priorities of the Hungarian presidency, Böröndi said the EU Strategic Compass programme should be supported in the areas of crisis management, military capabilities and the development of the defence industry. He said it was important to develop Europe’s rapid response forces, adding that the Hungarian presidency would support Europe’s defence technology and industrial funds. “Hungary’s defence industry is an integral part of that,” he said, adding that Hungary would contribute to setting up the first European combat group in 2025.

Böröndi said the Western Balkans continued to be a priority for Hungary and its armed forces, noting that this year, for the first time in the history of the EUFOR Althea operation, a Hungarian commander is in charge of the EU’s military mission there.

Hungary supports an informal document signed by Austria, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands aimed at “putting the Western Balkans in the European Union’s centre of focus to an even greater extent”, Böröndi said.

The Hungarian military will host European Union member states’ chiefs of staff in October and present Hungary’s military capabilities at the Brave Warrior exercise, Böröndi said.

Brieger said his visit was aimed at reinforcing cooperation, and his talks focused on issues closely related to EU common security and defence policy.

“The current situation in Ukraine and at the Red Sea definitely required a personal meeting,” he added.

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Russian discount chain recruiting in Hungary with dream salaries!

Russian discount chain recruiting in Hungary with dream salaries

Mere, a Russian discount chain promising to rival the low prices offered by Aldi, Lidl and Tesco, is already in the process of recruiting employees in Hungary. The minimalist Russian retailer aims to conquer Hungary after encountering limited success in Western Europe.

The Russian discount chain will be exceptionally cheap

As we reported last week, Mere intends to launch several stores in Hungary, positioning itself as a competitor to leading German and British supermarket chains. Its business model, unique in Europe, focuses on cutting unnecessary expenses such as elaborate decoration and offering a streamlined product selection while slashing prices by 15-20% below the market average. This strategy could resonate particularly well in poorer regions of Hungary.

mere russian discount chain hungary
The Russian MERE discount chain. Photo: mere.ws
A recent article by haszon.hu highlighted an email sent to potential suppliers, indicating Mere’s interest in entering the Hungarian market. Despite the lack of an official announcement from the company, doubts persist regarding Mere’s intentions.

New promising job offers

On the recruitment front, telex.hu reports that preparations for market entry are already underway, with Mere establishing a subsidiary in Hungary staffed by 11 employees. Job adverts placed by TS Retail Ltd., a Hungarian-registered company, offer positions with salaries starting at HUF 500,000 (EUR 1,300), plus bonuses for purchasing managers. Responsibilities include sourcing suppliers, negotiating contracts and monitoring competitors, with working hours restricted to the standard 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Interested applicants are instructed to submit their CVs to a Russian email address.

mere russian discount chain hungary
The Russian MERE discount chain in Germany. Photo: mere.ws

Mere’s ownership lies with Hung Trade DOO Beograd, primarily controlled by Sergei Schneider (79%) and Andrei Schneider (15%), alongside Valery Yakovlev (6%), who collectively oversee the Mere discount chain. Despite inquiries from telex.hu, further details regarding Mere’s plans remain undisclosed.

The Russian discount chain is present in many countries

Operating under the name Svetofor in Russia, Mere has established a presence across various Asian and European countries, including Kazakhstan, Belarus, China, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania.
Although unsuccessful in penetrating Western European markets, attributed in part to geopolitical tensions following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Mere remains steadfast in its commitment to offering prices 20-30% lower than industry leaders like Aldi and Lidl.

Embracing a no-frills approach characterised by minimalist design, limited staffing and no customer service, Mere’s outlets resemble warehouses, appealing particularly to lower-income demographics seeking significant savings.

mere russian discount chain hungary
The Russian MERE discount chain. Photo: mere.ws

The anticipated arrival of Mere in the Hungarian market may catalyse price reductions among established supermarket chains, benefitting consumers. Plans are underway for Mere’s first store opening in Budapest.

Read also:

  • Surprising news: Russian discount chain is coming to Hungary – PHOTOS and details HERE
  • Ambitious plans: Russian discount chain determined to beat Aldi, Lidl in Hungary

Featured image: Mere employees (Svetofor) in Serbia

 

Ambitious plans: Russian discount chain determined to beat Aldi, Lidl in Hungary

Russian discount store Mere in Serbia
Russian discount chain Mere ventures into Hungary with intentions to beat German supermarket chains Aldi, Lidl and other rivals. Their strategy is ambitious yet straightforward: promising to undercut prices by 20-30%.

According to telex.hu, the success story of the Russian Mere began in Siberia, with aspirations not only to conquer Hungary but also Europe. Previously, they expanded into Romania and Great Britain. However, their ambitious plans were temporarily halted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Nonetheless, it appears they’ve only paused temporarily. According to a leaked letter, they aspire to start operations in Hungary, a matter we have detailed in THIS article.

Telex reported that the Mere network is owned by Torgservis, with its first store established in 2009 in Krasnoyarsk, known for its WWI POW camp, where Hungarian soldiers were held captive. The company is under the ownership of brothers Sergei and Andrei Schneider, descendants of a German lineage. They don’t give interviews, instead silently constructing their supermarket empire.

mere russian discount chain hungary
The Russian MERE discount chain. Photo: mere.ws

Russian discount chain vows to be very affordable

The Russian discount chain, known as ‘Svetofor’ in Russia, boasts approximately 3,000 stores, mainly situated in small Siberian towns. Moreover, they have outlets in Kazakhstan, Belarus and China. Additionally, they’ve entered markets in Lithuania, Romania, Germany, Spain, Belgium and Britain. In Russia, their 2023 revenue totalled EUR 2 billion.

Their market strategy is straightforward: pledging prices 20-30% lower than competitors such as Aldi and Lidl. But how?

According to the manager of their Spanish subsidiary, they refrain from expenditures that would inflate costs. Consequently, there is minimal decoration or shelving, adopting a ‘Spartan’ approach. Furthermore, the absence of a warehouse means suppliers unload products directly into the shops. Naturally, employee numbers are kept to a minimum.

The Russian MERE discount chain. Photo: mere.ws

Consequently, Mere stores resemble warehouses rather than contemporary Western outlets. HERE are some additional photos.

Mere (or Svetofor in Russia) is very popular in the poorer regions. When they opened their first shop in Leipzig in 2019, the crowd was massive, and some people didn’t even have the chance to enter. Since customers emptied the local store, they had to close for days to restock their nonexistent shelves. A customer remarked that Mere is akin to Aldi in its early days.

Mere shifts its focus to Eastern Europe

In 2021, they aimed to expand into Western Europe, yet encountered obstacles; the Russian invasion of Ukraine thwarted their plans. In Great Britain, they established only one store in Preston, Lancashire, before withdrawing post-Putin’s attack. The conflict compelled Mere to exit Western Europe. Subsequently, following the war’s outbreak, they opened only two stores in Belgium, operating under the name My Price.

mere russian discount chain hungary
The Russian MERE discount chain. Photo: mere.ws

Expansion encountered difficulties for other reasons as well. Suppliers were displeased with unloading products in stores and receiving payment only upon sale, along with the obligation to retrieve unsold items.

In 2023, they announced they would like to focus on Eastern Europe. They opened stores in the Baltic states, Poland and Romania, so it makes sense to come to Hungary. They plan to open 200 shops and reach EUR 700 million in traffic. First, they want to make their stand in Budapest and the suburbs.

In 2023, they announced their intention to focus on Eastern Europe, opening stores in the Baltic states, Poland and Romania, rendering their arrival in Hungary expected. They aim to establish 200 outlets and achieve EUR 700 million in revenue. Initially, they seek to establish a foothold in Budapest and its environs.

In Hungary, nine food supermarket chains already exist, with industry players frequently asserting market saturation. Mere would become the 10th competitor.

However, the question arises: how does Mere’s market conquest align with the Hungarian government’s objective to safeguard the Hungarian food retail market for domestic companies?

Read also:

  • Mfor: Orbán cabinet will squeeze foreign supermarket chains, Spar remains a target – Read more HERE
  • Expert: Quality of food in Hungarian shops often worse than in Western Europe – Details in THIS article

Featured image: Russian discount store Mere in Serbia, depositphotos.com

Strange details surface about Russia’s release of 11 ‘Hungarian’ PoWs

Hungarian prisoner of war PoW behind bars soldier

In 2023, Hungary received 11 PoWs, supposedly Hungarian, in a transfer that has since raised eyebrows due to curious details. Recent revelations cast doubt on the ethnic identity of the detainees, as it transpires that only one among the eleven was genuinely of Hungarian descent. What then becomes of the remaining individuals?

PoWs set free

As we reported last June, 11 Hungarian PoWs from the western Transcarpathia region had been transferred to Hungary at the government’s request in collaboration with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. Back then, Zsolt Semjén, Hungary’s deputy prime minister for church policy and church diplomacy, described it as “a gesture by the Russian Orthodox Church towards Hungary”.

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow
Source: depositphotos.com

Upon their arrival in Hungary, the government declared the prisoners of war to be free. However, as highlighted by 444, the Ukrainian authorities were not informed about this transfer, which caused diplomatic tension. Under international law, the nation of origin of released PoWs must be duly notified if they are being relocated to a third country.

Only one Hungarian amongst them

Deutsche Welle conducted interviews with two of the released prisoners, who revealed a startling fact: only one of the eleven detainees was of Hungarian nationality. The remaining ten had fabricated their ethnicities, claiming Hungarian descent. While these two men came from Transcarpathia, they affirmed their Ukrainian heritage. They asserted that they had been instructed by the Russian Secret Service to falsify their nationalities to ensure their release.

Furthermore, they disclosed that they were prohibited from returning to Ukraine, as it would endanger the chances of their fellow soldiers’ future release. However, this contradicts the Hungarian government’s promise that they would enjoy unrestricted freedom upon reaching Hungary.

Their escape

According to the two men, deception was their only escape from the camp. One of them recounted:

I was told to say I was Hungarian. If I didn’t, I’d be sent back. So, I complied.

From Moscow, they were taken to Istanbul, before finally arriving in Budapest. According to them, they were treated well in Hungary and they could even contact their families. Although details regarding the other PoWs are scarce, it is known that five returned to Ukraine while the rest fled to other EU countries.
prisoner of war PoW behind bars soldier
Source: depositphotos.com

Seeking clarification

While the circumstances surrounding this episode remain unclear, both 444 and DW have sent inquiries to Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén for elucidation. 444 seeks clarification on how the Hungarian government ascertained the Hungarian nationality of the 11 PoWs handed over and whether the assertion that 10 of them were in fact Ukrainian holds any truth. However, responses to these queries are yet to be forthcoming.

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