The US ambassador in Budapest slams Hungarian government for helping Russian oligarchs

David Pressman criticized the Hungarian government for protecting the Russian oligarchs from the extension of some EU sanctions.

He asked in a tweet “How does protecting Russian oligarchs from sanctions serve Hungary and Hungarians?”

How does protecting Russian oligarchs from sanctions serve Hungary and Hungarians? https://t.co/m8tT6JkasL

— Ambassador David Pressman (@USAmbHungary) January 20, 2023

Hungarian and international press wrote earlier this week that the government would like to remove nine Russian individuals from an EU sanctions list concerning 1,300 individuals and 170 entities. Rferl.org wrote that Hungary attempted to cross, among others, Viktor Rashnikov, Pyotr Aven, and Alisher Usmanov from the list. The sanctions include visa-ban and asset freeze.

“The sanctions list must receive unanimous approval to be rolled over as the new renewal deadline approaches on March 15”, the website said. “Hungary is also looking to remove Usmanov’s sister, Gulbahor Ismailova; Aven’s business partner, Mikhail Fridman; Belarusian-Russian oligarch Dmitry Mazepin; his son Nikita Mazepin; and Russian oligarchs Grygory Berezkin and Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor”, they added.

The EU believes Mr Usmanov, Mr Kantor and Mr Mazepin have close ties with President Putin. The same goes for Mr Aven, who regularly meets with the Russian leader. Meanwhile, Mr Rashnikov is the owner of the Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) company, one of Russia’s largest taxpayers.

Read alsoHungary helps Putin’s ministers in the EU?

Source: Twitter, Rferl.org

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1 Comment

Tm says:

22/01/2023 at 12:24

The US goverment has sent 100 billion to Ukraine and has been a major player in the corruption and the conflict that has cost many lives and it continues to send billions. The US president was the US point man for Ukraine for 8 years during the Obama years. The Biden family have made millions in Ukraine along with many others in the west. The twice elected president was ousted by these same people- gee wonder how that happened.
The US has also paid of 90% of NATOs since its existence. Twice the population of the US and Europe pays a fraction of the cost. These same clowns would love to destroy Orban. He’s a dictator in there eyes including the US embassy here. US tech and media company’s dominant Europe including Hungary- would you like a list that is pushing the trash culture of the US. Let’s see if you can figure out how the country was shut down during Covid.