Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has launched an investigation into allegations that Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto was wiretapped by an EU member state, with assistance from a Hungarian opposition journalist. The move follows reports by The Washington Post and Politico claiming Szijjarto provided Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with “live reports” on closed-door EU discussions during breaks in meetings.
Szijjarto has denied the allegations as “lies and fake news.” However, Hungarian conservative media outlet Mandiner published an audio recording on Monday in which opposition journalist Szabolcs Panyi describes giving Szijjarto’s phone number to the security service of an unnamed EU country. In the recording, Panyi explains that once a phone number is obtained, intelligence agencies can access call metadata and contacts.
Panyi subsequently confirmed on Facebook that he was the individual in the recording. He stated he was seeking alternative contact numbers for Szijjarto and Lavrov from a source to compare with information from a European national security service. Orban framed the incident as two serious issues: evidence of wiretapping and indications of who was responsible. “This must be investigated immediately,” he said.
The recording also reveals Panyi describing himself as a “quasi-friend” of Anita Orban, a member of the opposition Tisza Party and its designated candidate for foreign minister should the party win next month’s parliamentary elections. Panyi suggested he held influence within the potential future administration, stating he could recommend “who should stay or be removed.”
Panyi is an editor and Budapest bureau chief for Vsquare, an investigative outlet funded by the U.S. National Endowment for Democracy (NED), USAID, and EU-financed journalism funds. Earlier this month, Vsquare published a report—citing anonymous European security sources—alleging GRU agents were operating in Budapest to sway the election in Orban’s favour. That report, which provided no documentary evidence, was promoted by the Tisza Party’s campaign.
The investigation ordered by Orban will examine both the alleged interception of Szijjarto’s communications and the role of the journalist involved. The allegations arrive weeks before Hungary’s pivotal elections, heightening political tensions between Orban’s government, the opposition, and EU institutions. The inquiry’s findings could influence the electoral narrative and Hungary’s already strained relations with European partners.
