Asia

Foreign minister Szijjártó: Hungary, Kyrgyzstan ready to advance cooperation

Hungary, Kyrgyzstan ready to advance cooperation 22

Hungary and Kyrgyzstan have recently lifted their cooperation to a strategic partnership and have taken the decisions needed to further advance their relations, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Bishkek on Tuesday.

Central Asia is one of the world’s fastest growing regions and will continue to be a key destination when it comes to Hungary’s foreign trade aspirations, Szijjártó said in a joint press briefing with his Kyrgyz counterpart Jeenbek Kulubayev, according to a foreign ministry statement.

The Hungarian-Kyrgyz development fund recently began operations, Szijjártó said, adding that the Hungarian government had contributed five billion forints (EUR 13.2m) to it with a view to supporting investments by Hungarian companies in Kyrgyzstan. Preparations on the first projects are under way, with Hungary and Kyrgyzstan engaged in advanced talks on the construction of hydropower plants, the delivery of live animals, the export of ATMs and the construction of irrigation and sewage systems, Szijjarto said. The foundations for such investments are solid, Szijjarto said, noting that bilateral trade turnover last year increased by 47 percent, exceeding 12 million dollars.

As regards the war in Ukraine, Szijjártó said the conflict was also affecting Hungarian-Kyrgyz relations, noting that a direct air link between Budapest and Bishkek had yet to be established due to the crisis.

Szijjártó underlined the importance of preventing security threats in Central Asia, preventing Afghanistan from becoming a source of migration waves, waging a successful fight against terrorism and putting a stop to the spread of extremist ideologies.

Szijjártó urged greater European Union support for Kyrgyzstan’s efforts in this area and called on the bloc to sign a cooperation agreement with Kyrgyzstan as soon as possible. He said the EU should also double its financial support for the border protection efforts of Central Asian countries.

Kulubayev noted that

Kyrgyzstan and Hungary mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2022. The two countries have come a long way since 1992, he said, stressing the importance of boosting cooperation in several areas.

At the second meeting of the Hungarian-Kyrgyz Strategic Council, the parties signed a cultural cooperation agreement and agreed on the schedule of bilateral cooperation for 2022-2025.

Earlier in the day, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov decorated Szijjártó with the Order of Friendship in recognition of his efforts to advance bilateral relations.

As we wrote today, MOL plans to develop a large gas field in Kazakhstan, says Szijjártó in Nur-Sultan

Yemeni national jailed for sexual assault in Budapest

Handcuffs Bilincs Criminal Bűnöző

A Budapest court on Tuesday sentenced a Yemeni citizen to three years in prison for attempted rape.

In its binding ruling, the Budapest Municipal Court upheld a sentence by a lower court. It also ordered the man to be expelled from the country for a period of five years.

According to the ruling, the Yemeni man dragged a woman down from a bus in March 2021, held her down and attempted to rape her before being stopped by passers-by.

The Pest Central District Court accepted the defendant’s guilty plea to sexual assault charges and his waiver of his right to a trial, the Municipal Court said in a statement. The court’s ruling was appealed by the defendant’s attorney.

The second-instance court ruled that the Pest Central District Court had made the right decision by accepting the defendant’s guilty plea at the preliminary trial.

Read also:

Hungary sending 156,000 vaccines to Vietnam

covid vaccine

Hungary is donating 156,000 doses of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine to Vietnam, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Facebook on Thursday.

Hungary is grateful for the medical equipment it received from Vietnam during the first wave of the pandemic, Szijjártó said. In the spirit of partnership, Hungary freed up and sold 400,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Vietnam before donating another 100,000 doses to the country, the minister noted.

Counting the new shipment, Hungary has sent Vietnam enough Covid jabs to inoculate 656,000 people, he said. In total, Hungary has so far donated close to 5 million vaccine doses to 18 countries, Szijjártó said.

Refugees from Ukraine
Read alsoShould we fear a new wave of epidemics due to the Russian-Ukrainian war?

Tax deductions for online business

Taxes on small businesses are like vampires… and not the lovely vampires you see on TV. Unfortunately, waving a bunch of garlic about won’t make them go away. The most up-to-date information and guidance to assist you in running your company. However, you may lower your tax bill by taking as many tax deductions as possible.

Tax deductions for online businesses have a direct effect on the amount of money you owe in taxes each year. The more you understand them, the more you’ll be able to deduct—and the less you’ll owe.

Tax deductions might be perplexing whether you’re an online seller or a company that generates money by selling items or services over the internet. Because they don’t know how to transfer conventional deductions to an online model, many internet retailers lose out on substantial write-offs.

While it may seem that your deductions are restricted to software, shipping, and inventory, you might be deducting a lot more. This super-long list of tax deductions for internet retailers can help you slay your taxes. Here is a list of the tax deductions for online businesses:

  1. Advertising and promotion
  2. Auto expenses
  3. Bank fees
  4. Business insurance
  5. Business licenses and permits.

 

  1. Do I need to collect sales tax for my online business

In states where your firm has a physical presence, known as “nexus,” you are required to collect sales taxes on online customers who reside in that state. If you do not have a physical presence in the state, you are not required to collect sales tax on online transactions.

Whether you’re an online seller attempting to figure out if you need to collect sales tax, start by seeing if your home state has one. Although most states have sales taxes, others, such as Alaska and Oregon, do not.

A sales tax is levied in certain cities and municipalities. In 2021, the statewide sales tax rate in California was 7.25 percent, and local districts may levy their own supplementary sales taxes. A merchant must be aware of local tax rates in order to collect them from consumers. Many states that collect sales tax exclude specific commodities from taxes, such as food.

  1. Income tax for online business

According to Section 233 of the Ordinance, commissioned income is subject to a tax of 12 percent. It is just 5 percent of their commission earnings that is imposed on online marketplaces, which is intended to encourage the use of these markets. If you don’t know where is the best skrill So I recommend checking the Best Skrill Exchange in Pakistan.

In a world where the COVID-19 epidemic is spreading and many people are losing their jobs as a result of downsizing by corporations experiencing significant cash-flow problems, certain possibilities have emerged, such as the efficient use of information technology (IT).

People all around the globe are focusing their attention on E-commerce and online marketplaces, which have been capitalizing on the present situation by increasing sales. Businesses all around the globe were making huge adjustments towards E-commerce and online marketplaces even before COVID-19. It is, therefore, reasonable to suppose that if this becomes the standard, it will be impossible to revert to conventional corporate practices.

Pakistani businesses are likewise undergoing a digitization phase in order to reach out to more clients. As previously said, E-commerce and online marketplaces are part of this digitization.

  1. Sales tax for online business

In this section, we will let you know about sales tax for online businesses. A tiny portion of a transaction is put on by an online shop as sales tax. Consumers only pay sales tax on taxable things purchased at retail, making it a “consumption tax.” A sales tax is imposed in 45 states and Washington, D.C.

Furthermore, most of those states permit local governments to levy a sales tax, such as cities, counties, and other “special taxing districts.” As a result, certain localities, such as Rhinebeck, New York, may have an unusually high combined sales tax. The state is in charge of the sales tax. In the United States, there is no such thing as a “national” sales tax.

As a result, when dealing with sales tax in various U.S. states, internet vendors may find themselves dealing with somewhat diverse sales tax laws and standards. It is your job as an online merchant to charge your customers the right amount of sales tax and pay the taxes received to the state if you are liable for sales tax in that state.

  1. Do I need a tax id for an online business?

You may be asking whether you need a federal company tax ID number, commonly known as an Employee Identification Number if you operate a small business (EIN). An EIN, like your Social Security number, is a nine-digit number that uniquely identifies your company.

An EIN is required on all federal business tax paperwork and forms, as well as state and local tax returns. You may also use it to apply for business licenses and permits, as well as everywhere else where an IRS number is necessary to document your firm. Don’t forget to check Best Skrill Exchange in Pakistan. When opening a business bank account, you may also utilize an EIN to assist keep your company and personal costs separate.

  1. Tax id number for online business

If your online shop is located in the United States or a U.S. territory, and you have workers, withhold taxes on the wages and salaries you pay or operate as a company or partnership, you must get an EIN from the IRS. EINs are also required for single-member LLCs with workers other than yourself.

  1. Tax for online business

Setting up an internet company is a terrific way to keep costs down and take advantage of flexible working hours. E-commerce businesses, like any other firm, will be required to pay taxes.

  1. How to collect sales tax for an online business?

Here are two steps to collect sales tax for online businesses:

  • If your company has a physical presence, or “nexus,” in a certain state, you must collect sales taxes from consumers who shop online in that state.
  • You don’t have to collect sales tax on internet purchases if you don’t have a physical presence.
  1. How to find a business tax id number online for free?

To get another company’s federal tax ID number, use one of the following methods:

  • Inquire with the business. The company’s tax ID should be known by someone in the payroll or accounting department.
  • Look up SEC filings. SEC.gov is the source for this information.
  • Inquire with a credit reporting agency.
  • Make use of a premium EIN database.
  • Melissa Database is a great resource for non-profits.
  1. how to file income tax returns online for business Pakistan?

Log into Iris to file your income tax return online. Iris is an internet site for filing income tax returns. If you’re a first-time income tax filer, you’ll need to register before you can submit your return. After you’ve registered, you’ll be able to log onto Iris and submit your tax return.

  1. Tax for online business in Pakistan

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has set September 1, 2021, as the start date for the 2% sales tax on the gross value of items sold on online marketplaces.

Hungary bans travels to Ukraine, helps foreigners get out

Ukraine Ungvár bank crowd

“Travel to Ukraine is not recommended under any circumstances,” the Hungarian foreign ministry said on the website of its consular service on Thursday.

The ministry has asked Hungarian nationals staying in Ukraine to register for consular protection. All Hungarian representations in Ukraine are at the disposal of Hungarians contacting them personally or by phone, the ministry said.

Telephone numbers of the Hungarian embassy and consulate in Kyiv, the chief consulate in Uzhhorod (Ungvár), as well as the consular office in Berehove (Beregszász) are listed at https://konzuliszolgalat.kormany.hu/ukrajnara-vonatkozo-utazasi-tanacsok220224.

Furthermore, Hungary’s foreign minister said late on Thursday that India and Iran had turned to Hungary for help in rescuing their citizens stranded in Ukraine. Péter Szijjártó wrote on Facebook that he had spoken by phone to the foreign ministers of India and Iran concerning their request that Hungary open a humanitarian corridor to the nearest airport for their citizens who reach the Ukrainian-Hungarian border.

“Of course, we will help everyone get home safely,”

he said. The minister told his counterparts that leaving Kyiv by road was extremely difficult, adding, however, that they could count on Hungary’s help.

Ukraine bank crowd
Read also FM Szijjártó: evacuation from Ukraine ‘impossible’

Asian guest workers are flocking to Hungary

construction-workers

The Hungarian government also supports Asian guest workers to ease labour shortages. More and more Asian guest workers are arriving in Hungary, while the anti-migration propaganda is booming.

According to G7.hu, although the coronavirus pandemic has slowed down the increment of the number of foreign workers and immigrants arriving in Hungary, their overall numbers have been rising at an astonishing rate in recent years. Meanwhile, the composition of guest workers working in Hungary is also changing rapidly.

It seems that the “migrant propaganda” is just a sham, as the portal writes, a communication stunt. In fact, the Hungarian government has entered the global race for Asian labour, perhaps best illustrated by a decree that came into force last September to encourage large numbers of workers from the Far East.

Countries from where workers are coming

The news portal also adds that recently, more and more workers from India, Vietnam and the Philippines have been arriving in Hungary.

As we can read in Napi.hu’s article, in recent years, the National Employment Service (Nemzeti Foglalkoztatási Szolgálat, NFSZ) has published annual summaries on the subject, which show that the number of foreigners working in Hungary increased significantly between 2015 and 2020:

from almost 17,000 in 2015 and 2016, the figure was close to 70,000 in 2019, and then fell to just over 36,000 in 2020, but this may already include the impact of the pandemic.

If we put the annual reports side by side, we can see that workers are arriving in Hungary from more and more countries. For example, in 2020, 131 Syrians, 194 Pakistanis, 208 Nigerians, 426 Filipinos and 630 Moldovans were granted work permits. However, Vietnam tops this list with 5140 workers, almost 2,000 more than China in second place and about double the number of South Korea in third place.

Qualifications

According to G7.hu, 45% of those working in casual employment do simple, unskilled work.

About half of them have a primary school education and 18% have a vocational secondary school education. Just over 40% are in administrative and service support jobs, and 13% work in the construction sector.

The number and proportion of migrant workers from within the EU have fallen, while the number and proportion of migrant workers from Asia, including Vietnam, South Korea and India, have increased in recent years, and even the arrival of large numbers of Ukrainian migrant workers did not change this.

plane
Read alsoWizz Air is in trouble amidst the Russian-Ukrainian conflict

Hungarians to build solar energy park in this Gulf country

Péter Szijjártó Hungary Oman

Tech-oriented Hungarian companies can benefit greatly from the opportunities offered by the Gulf countries, and the Hungarian government is fully supporting investments in the region, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told a joint press conference with his Omani counterpart, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, in Muscat.

Szijjártó told the press conference that international investments were key to the success of the Hungarian economy, the foreign ministry said. The strategic cooperation between Hungarian oil and gas company MOL and Oman’s oil major is a backbone of Hungarian-Omanian partnership, Szijjártó said. Other companies are eyeing cooperation in building up a sustainable energy sector in the country, he said.

The delegation headed by Szijjártó comprised the representatives of 24 Hungarian companies. One company has already secured an agreement on building a solar energy park worth 10 million euros, he said.

Oman and Hungary also signed an investment protection agreement earlier on Wednesday, and Hungary’s Eximbank has opened a 56 million dollar credit line to support joint ventures, he said.

Szijjártó also called for closer cooperation between the Gulf states and the European Union.

Hungary supports scrapping visas for travellers to the EU, “as we see no risks, only advantages and potential profit, in doing so,”

he said.

Albusaidi praised cooperation between Hungary and the Sultanate, and said it was a “good foundation for expanding ties”. During the talks, they identified several areas of further cooperation such as air travel and “shared challenges”, he said.

Wizz Air
Read alsoHungarian Wizz Air to increase ticket prices

Differences and similarities between Azerbaijan and Hungary – PHOTO GALLERY

Azerbaijan

Although the two countries are 2,000 kilometres apart, there are many similarities. Of course, differences can also be discovered. Here are some examples of these similarities and differences.

Baths – Similarity

Although Azerbaijan is the country of fire, there is a long tradition of spas, a part of the Muslim cleansing culture. In Budapest, in the Hungarian capital, you can find the recently reopened Veli Bej, as well as the Rudas and Király baths. While in Baku, HamamBath, Taze Bey Baths, and Almaz Qadin Klubu are popular places. It is interesting that

the population of Azerbaijan is around 10 million people, same as Hungary’s.

In addition, examining the capitals, we can state that both Baku and Budapest have about 2 million inhabitants.

Transport – Difference

In Hungary, we often think that the traffic is crazy. Especially in Budapest, traffic jams are common. However, Azerbaijan’s main export is oil, so the country has very cheap fuel. As a result, everyone is driving. Even though 8 or even 10-lane roads have been built, this is not enough for the amount of traffic. Everyone is trying to get to their destination on time, so the lanes easily fill up. This can be strange to the Hungarian eye, but the locals are driving their car in the safest way in this orderly chaos.

 

History – Similarity

There are geographical similarities between the two countries, and it was not only the Turks who appeared in the history of both countries. One of the most significant points in Hungarian history is the Trianon Peace Treaty of 1920. As a result, millions of Hungarians have been living outside Hungary ever since. In the lives of the Azerbaijanians, the peace treaty ending the 1828 Russian–Persian wars is similar. Azerbaijanian people believe that

50 million of their Azeri compatriots live outside the country.

Of these, 30 million live in Iran. In addition, the Soviet Union and Russia had a great influence on the past and present of both countries.

Gastronomy – Difference

Azerbaijan has a long tradition of soups. One of their famous soups is the dushbara, which has noodles stuffed with minced lamb. Also,

you should not miss the different homemade breads and the real, authentic Azerbaijani kebabs.

Their famous dish is dolma, which is minced meat stuffed into grape leaves. They also make stuffed tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. The latter is a popular dish in Hungary as well, even though the method of preparation differs significantly from the recipe of the Azeri version.

There is an old tradition of consuming tea in the country. A tea session is essential after every meal. In addition to hot tea poured into special glasses, it is customary to consume sugar cubes or other hard candies. An interesting tradition is Şirin çay. When the engaged couple’s parents first meet, and the girl’s parents give sweet tea to the boy’s parents, it means giving their blessing to the union.

Loving sports – Similarity

Like Hungary, various sports are popular in Azerbaijan. Of course, football is also the most popular here. In addition to the national team, the Qarabağ Futbol Klub team may be familiar to many, as they often get into one of the European Cup series. It is not only football that is popular, but they are also at the forefront in chess and wrestling.

Azerbaijan has seven Olympic champions.

When it comes to sports, we cannot miss the Formula One race in Baku, organised since 2016.

Other curiosities include the fact that the Azerbaijani language is agglutinating, just like the Hungarian language. That is, the suffix comes at the end of the word. We have several words in common, such as ‘alma’ (apple), and ‘szakál’ (beard).

Azerbaijan
Read alsoThe Armenian – Azerbaijani war through a Hungarian eye — PHOTO GALLERY

Hungarian tourists were forced to quarantine in Thailand

thailand

Hungarian tourists were forced to quarantine in Thailand. A Hungarian couple has been currently waiting in two separate hospitel rooms to get rid of the COVID-19 infection. The unfortunate pair shared their experiences. According to them, they already faced issues during air travel, in addition to the confusion in terms of the healthcare facility and the accommodation expenses.

Hungarian tourist ends up in a quarantine in Thailand

Earlier, a Hungarian woman had to quarantine after catching the coronavirus infection in Thailand during her vacation. After the incident, a Hungarian couple also reported to index.hu, that they were compelled to do the same. Rebeka and her partner travelled to Thailand for a long-planned vacation. 

The couple got the infection in Thailand.

Although the Hungarian tourists entered the exotic country with a negative COVID-19 test, they had to spend the first night in quarantine upon their arrival. The tests and the quarantine stay have to be paid for by the visitor.

The Hungarian tourists already had a bad gut feeling on the plane. “Unfortunately, there was another passenger on the plane who did not wear the mask the correct way. I do not know why it is so hard for some to cover their noses,” writes Rebeka in her report.

Nobody knows who will pay the bills

The couple received the result of the second test while they were sitting in a taxi. It was then that they learned that both of them had contracted the virus. The taxi driver was scared at first, but she was kind and helpful all along the drive. After the positive test, the couple headed to a hospitel.

The hospitel is a government-approved facility where people can talk to doctors and receive health care in Thailand. 

The hospitel is a 15-square-metre room with a balcony. The staff is kind and helpful. Patients can order food, but by the time it arrives, it is often already cold. They have to measure their fever and monitor their pulse oxygen levels twice a day. The results are sent to the medical staff through an application. In principle, this costs HUF 180,000 thousand (EUR 505) a day.

Nobody knows who will pay the bills.

The Hungarian couple is trying to talk to an insurance company and local hospitals. Hopefully, the insurance company will cover all the expenses. However, this is far from certain. Hospitality, food and travel expenses will amount to at least HUF 1 million (EUR 2800) per person.

Portfolio.hu previously reported that the Thai Ministry of Health advertises the importance of vaccination due to a large number of infections. Three months after the third vaccination, residents can already request the fourth jab.

Minister: largest Hungarian road construction project starts in Asia

sri_lanka_hungary_business_forum.webp
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on Wednesday met his Sri Lankan counerpart, Gamini Lakshman Peiris, and pledged to strengthen the ties between the two countries. Earlier on Wednesday, Szijjártó announced the largest Hungarian road construction project which is getting under way in South Asia.

Betonútépítő is building two large motorway overpasses near Sri Lanka’s capital as part of a 20 billion forint (EUR 56m) development, the ministry said in a statement. Szijjártó noted that the government supports Hungarian companies entering international markets. Hungary’s Eximbank is backing the investment which is expected to conclude by October 2023. Metal structures for the construction are being made in Nyíregyháza, while their delivery will take place in March.
 
At the joint press conference with Peiris, Szijjártó said cutting-edge technologies implemented by numerous Hungarian companies gave them a competitive edge internationally
 
, opening up investment opportunities in Sri Lanka and elsewhere.
 
Besides infrastructure development, Hungarian printing and water management companies are also present in the country, he said. A recently reconstructed water purifying plant has given 2 million people access to clean drinknig water, he said. While many development projects worldwide have fallen victim to the coronavirus pandemic, the Hungarian government is supporting Hungarian companies present on foreign markets to prevent further losses, he said.
 
 
The ministers have agreed to convene the second meeting of its economic committee as soon as possible and to speed up talks on
 
the elimination of double taxation to ensure “fair and honest cooperation”,
 
Szijjártó said.

Starting this year, Hungary is also
 
offering 20 scholarships to Sri Lankan students wishing to study in Hungary,
 
he said. “We have always been fair, honest and reliable partners. We have not interfered in each other’s internal affairs, we’ve never criticised each other, and we’ve supported each other in international organisations; and we wish to carry on that way in the future,” Szijjártó said.
 
Peiris praised Hungarian economic development and said his country was on track to implement similar projects, which made robust cooperation and knowledge exchange very important. During the visit, Szijjarto also met Sri Lanka’s prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, as well as the ministers of commerce, education and highways.
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Read alsoCheck out how Budapest’s tallest building is developing! – PHOTO GALLERY

Orbán cabinet supports Kazakh president who gives shoot-to-kill orders to quell protests

kazakhstan

Hungary’s government supports efforts to restore peace and order in Kazakhstan, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Tuesday, adding that stability in Central Asia was in Hungary’s interest.

The past several years have shown that the situation of the Central Asian region has a fundamental impact on the security of Europe and specifically central Europe, the foreign ministry cited Szijjártó as saying in a video call with the foreign ministers of the Organization of Turkic States, in which Hungary has observer status.

“Our interests lie in a peaceful and stable Central Asia,”

Szijjártó said.

“Attempts at destabilisation and coups run completely counter to our security interests, since they end up making more room for acts of terror and the spread of radical and extremist ideologies, which tends to lead to the emergence of large migration waves from various regions.”

Szijjártó said the members of the Organization of Turkic States passed a joint declaration at their virtual meeting in which they condemned “violence and vandalism” in Kazakhstan, expressed their solidarity with the Kazakh people as well as their sympathies over the death toll in the wake of the upheaval in the country.

As regards the violent protests, Szijjártó said:

“We know very well from experience what tends to happen in these instances on the international political scene. We usually see so-called human rights groups and certain countries wanting to level criticism and approve declarations condemning the situation.”

“But there’s no place for those this time,” the minister said, adding that the international community should instead work to prevent a repeat of “similar worrying and violent developments”.

Those responsible for any form of violence must not be absolved and terrorist groups and organisations spreading extremist ideology must not be given space to operate, he added.

Meanwhile, Szijjártó said the recent developments in Kazakhstan had also demonstrated the importance of economic development schemes in the region, arguing that it was economic progress that provided the foundations of stability and peace. Hungary’s government therefore supports the creation of a Turkic investment fund, which could help launch further investment projects in Central Asia, he said.

Szijjártó also said that a military plane carrying Hungarian citizens evacuated from Kazakhstan landed in Kecskemét, in central Hungary, on Monday night.

As we wrote on Monday, referring to the events, Szijjártó said that in Kazakhstan “an attempt was made to topple the constitutional order, and a well-coordinated attack was made against the Kazakh state itself”.

Kazakhstan is a strategic partner, therefore

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán called Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev earlier on Monday and assured him of Hungary’s solidarity over victims of recent developments,

details HERE.

Orbán cabinet: Attempt was made to topple the constitutional order in Kazakhstan

kazakhstan (2)

The Hungarians that requested help from the Hungarian government to leave Kazakhstan are being evacuated as planned, the foreign minister said, adding that they would arrive in Budapest on Monday evening, aboard an aircraft of the Hungarian military.

Hungary’s diplomatic representations have been in contact with some 100 Hungarians in Kazakhstan since the beginning of unrest in that country, Szijjártó said, adding that altogether 12 of them asked for help to leave.

Five people were rescued from Almaty last week, while six are being evacuated now and one person, holding dual citizenship, decided to stay in Almaty, Szijjártó said.

Under a recent agreement with Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, the six Hungarians are leaving Almaty on board of a Russian aircraft. They will land near Moscow later in the day, and will be picked up by the Hungarian military plane, Szijjártó added.

Kazakhstan is a strategic partner, therefore Prime Minister Viktor Orbán called Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev earlier on Monday and assured him of Hungary’s solidarity over victims of recent developments,

Szijjártó said.

Referring to the events, he said that

in Kazakhstan “an attempt was made to topple the constitutional order, and a well-coordinated attack was made against the Kazakh state itself”.

The Hungarian government offered its assistance to the Kazakh state last week, Szijjártó said, adding that on Tuesday foreign ministers of the Turkic Council, in which Hungary has observer status, will hold a video conference on the subject.

kazakhstan
Read alsoSix Hungarians, family members on board Russian plane leaving Kazakhstan

Six Hungarians, family members on board Russian plane leaving Kazakhstan

kazakhstan

Six Hungarians and their family members are on board of the Russian defence ministry’s airplane that took off from Kazakhstan’s Almaty airport, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Monday morning, shortly after the plane’s departure.

A seventh Hungarian, who holds dual citizenship, decided against leaving the country, Szijjártó said on Facebook.

The minister noted that

the Hungarians trapped in Almaty, where the airport is still closed for commercial flights, were evacuated with help of the Russian foreign ministry according to an agreement he made with Sergei Lavrov, his Russian counterpart, on Sunday.

The airplane is taking Hungarians to Russia from where they will be taken to Hungary by a plane of the Hungarian armed forces, Szijjártó said.

As we wrote before, a Hungarian man got stuck with his wife and two children in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The man reported that they were sleeping in clothes, ready to flee. He also said that they wanted to break into their home at one point. Details HERE.

Two Hungarians wishing to return from Kazakhstan to Hungary were set to leave that country on Saturday, Hungary’s minister of foreign affairs told public media, details HERE.

Almaty and other cities in Kazakhstan calm after violent protests, but authorities say ‘counterterrorist operation’ still under way. As The Guardian reports says, authorities in Kazakhstan have said 164 people were killed in the unrest that rocked the country in the past week, including three children. 103 of the deaths were in Almaty, the country’s largest city and the centre of the violence, the health ministry said.

Jobbik MEP Gyöngyösi: Kazakhstan returning to the Russian sphere of interest?

UN Soldier in Kazakhstan

Remarks of Jobbik MEP Gyöngyösi

At present, it’s quite difficult to clearly identify the motives behind the increasingly inflamed protests in Kazakhstan. While news reports talk about a spontaneous unrest caused by the sudden rise of energy prices, President Tokayev and the Kazakh government have issued official statements on a foreign terrorist intervention aimed at destabilizing the Central Asian country. In contrast, several foreign analysts write about a national uprising to overthrow and democratize the authoritarian regime built and strictly controlled by iron-fisted dictator Nursultan Nazarbayev for three decades. Although Nazarbayev, who had already established his political career during the Communist times as one of the top executive decision makers of the Soviet Union and then as the president of the independent Kazakhstan for three decades after the Soviet Union’s collapse, resigned from the presidency in favour of his appointed successor in 2019, he still remained the country’s informal ruler pulling strings in the background.

That is to say until now, because Tokayev has recently removed his predecessor from every position in response to the seemingly never-ending protests. This means the official end of the Nazarbayev era.

Which of the above scenarios is true? Like in most cases, the truth probably lies somewhere between the partial truths above. Along with the social tensions brought more to the light by the pandemic, high energy prices must certainly have had a role in the unrest. On the other hand, you cannot rule out the possibility of a foreign destabilization attempt of a country in an extremely difficult geopolitical position, either. Undoubtedly, Nazarbayev’s Kazakhstan has not been a shining star of pluralistic democracy and the rule of law, and many of its citizens probably want to live in a country with more freedom.

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Read alsoJobbik MEP Gyöngyösi: Has Europe learnt a lesson about migration?

Either way, and regardless of what led to the escalation of violence, the fact of the matter is that Moscow’s military assistance was once again needed to restore order in yet another former Soviet republic following Belarus, where Russia had to help out the local dictator after a fraudulent election in 2020.

Just a few weeks after Russian president Vladimir Putin made it clear for the EU’s leaders that he considered the post-Soviet republics as his own sphere of interest and that he would do whatever it takes to prevent these countries from turning toward the West in any shape or form, perhaps nobody is surprised to see Russian troops deployed to the streets of Almaty to restore order – just like they were in Budapest in 1956.

Kazakhstan Riots
Read alsoTwo Hungarians left Kazakhstan on Saturday

Beside the former Soviet republics however, these decisions may pose a risk to other countries as well. Putin’s statement revived the Brezhnev Doctrine which, back at the time, established the Soviet dominance over not just the now former republics but the ideologically bound Eastern Central European countries as well. Back then the connective tissue was the Communist ideology. Today it is the openly anti-Western, fundamentally corrupt, populist and anti-democratic illiberalism, which serves Russia’s geopolitical interests.

The supreme European leader of this ideology is Viktor Orbán, who copied Putin’s example and built up an absolute power in Hungary during his 12-year reign, complete with dominance over every area of life.

In today’s Hungary, nepotism and corrupt state redistribution not only permeate every segment of the economy, but they have subdued the President of the Republic, the Parliament, the prosecution service, the intelligence services and the entire media, while Hungary has drifted farther and farther away from the European democratic values and ended up in the Russian sphere of interest due to Orbán’s foreign policy. As a result, the ground is prepared to keep Viktor Orbán in power in the national elections next April. And if a wrench happens to be thrown in the works, Orbán could probably still rely on Moscow’s comradeship and assistance, just like his friend Lukashenka did.

Preventing the revival of the Cold War and the division of Europe is vital for not just Hungary, which had already committed to the West over a thousand years ago, but for the whole of Europe as well.

Riots in Kazakhstan
Read alsoHungarian families stuck in Kazakhstan! – This is how they experience the events

Two Hungarians left Kazakhstan on Saturday

Kazakhstan Riots

Two Hungarians wishing to return from Kazakhstan to Hungary are set to leave that country tonight, Hungary’s minister of foreign affairs told public media on Saturday.

Hungary’s diplomatic missions are giving priority to staying in touch with the nearly 100 Hungarian citizens staying in Kazakhstan and keeping track of those who wish to return to Hungary, Péter Szijjártó said.

For the time being, twelve Hungarians wish to leave Kazakhstan, he said, adding that one of them was taken home by a Wizz Air flight heading for Nur-Sultan, and another left Aktobe for Istanbul on Saturday evening.

Kazahstan Riots
Riots in Kazakhstan
Photo: MTI/EPA/Alexander Kuznyecov

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Returning to Hungary seems to be more cumbersome for the ten Hungarians staying in Almaty as the local airport is still closed and road traffic is severely limited, Szijjártó said.

Once appropriate security conditions are in place, the Hungarians will most probably leave on road for Kyrgyzstan where the Hungarian embassy has made preparations to receive them and return them to Hungary, he said.

The foreign ministry is in constant touch with the US Consulate-General in Almaty, which plans to evacuate US citizens on Monday at the latest, Szijjártó said.

The minister said that none of the 70 to 80 Hungarians employed by an energy giant had indicated their wish to leave Kazakhstan.

Riots in Kazakhstan
Read alsoHungarian families stuck in Kazakhstan! – This is how they experience the events

Hungarian families stuck in Kazakhstan! – This is how they experience the events

Riots in Kazakhstan

A Hungarian man got stuck with his wife and two children in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The man reported that they were sleeping in clothes, ready to flee. He also said that they wanted to break into their home at one point.

Dramatic situation in Kazakhstan

There have been no big riots in Kazakhstan like the one going on now since independence was won in 1991. There are demonstrations all over the country. As a part of this, buildings are set on fire and attacked. Looting and street fights are commonplace.

Péter Sebestyén lives in Kazakhstan with his wife and two children. They live farther from the city centre, but they are not safe either.

“A group of five wanted to break into the complex yesterday, but we could deal with that,”

Sebestyén said. He added that there was a residential rally recently where residents tried to come together and prepare for any situation. They collected medicines and bandages in the event of a more serious clash, writes portfolio.hu.

Riots in Kazahstan
Police forces in riot gear in Kazahstan
Photo: MTI/EPA

“They said that, if possible, no one should undress, like in the military, and be ready for action, so you have to sleep in clothes,”

says the man living in Almaty. Sebestyén added that they do not notice riots during the day. There is peace on the streets. However, going shopping or getting administrative tasks done is almost impossible as most stores have closed, and the ones that are open soon run out of stock.

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There are more Hungarians in Kazakhstan

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade indicated that the Hungarian embassy in Kazakhstan is in constant contact with Hungarians living abroad.

Despite the fact that the Hungarian Foreign Minister, Péter Szijjártó, said that there are no reports of Hungarians affected by the Kazakhstan protests,

eleven people indicated that they wanted to leave the country.

Riots in Kazahstan UN
UN soldiers in Kazahstan
Photo: MTI/AP/NUR.KZ/Vlagyimir Tretyjakov

“The staff of the embassy in Nur-Sultan and the Consulate General in Almaty are doing their best. But both air travel and road transport between the cities are currently facing serious obstacles. And in many cases, it is completely impossible,” said Péter Szijjártó.

The Foreign Minister added that none of the Hungarians living abroad got in trouble. However, Kazakhstan has been placed in the security category with the worst rating. That is, it was placed among the countries not recommended for travel, writes index.hu.

Ukraine and Hungary Cooperation
Read alsoFM: Impairment of Hungarian communities’ rights in Ukraine ‘unacceptable’

No reports of Hungarians affected by Kazakhstan protests

Kazakhstan-protest-Almati
Hungary’s foreign ministry has received no reports of any Hungarians affected by the political unrest in Kazakhstan, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Friday.
 
“Kazakhstan is our strategic partner, so we are following the developments in the country closely,” Szijjártó said on Facebook.
 
He said the ministry on Thursday reached out to the secretary-general of the Organization of Turkic States and expressed its support for his call for a videoconference of the organisation’s foreign ministers.
 
The video call has been convened by the grouping’s Uzbek presidency for Tuesday morning, Hungarian time,
 
Szijjártó said.
 
“Our foreign missions are in constant contact with the Hungarian nationals in Kazakhstan and so far have no knowledge of any citizens who may be in trouble,” the minister said.
LAvrov Hungary
Read alsoHungarian FM Szijjártó receives Order of Friendship from Russian FM Lavrov

Mesmerising new video about the Dubai Expo Hungarian pavilion

dubai_world_expo_2020
The Hungarian pavilion at the 2020 World Expo in Dubai has attracted 400,000 visitors since the fair opened in October, the Hungarian Tourism Agency (MTU) said on Wednesday.
 
The 400,000th visitor was a member of a family visiting from Abu Dhabi. The pavilion, dubbed Aqua Roots of Hungary, showcases water, a resource in which Hungary is rich. It is the largest wooden structure in the entire Persian Gulf region.
 

Expo 2020 Dubai will run until the end of March this year. It had to be postponed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

 
A video presenting the Hungarian pavilion can be watched below:
Dubai-crown-prince
Read alsoThe Hungarian pavilion fascinated the Dubai crown prince! – PHOTOS