Hungarian police detained four people on suspicion of people smuggling. Local reporting identified former prime minister Viktor Orbán’s brother Áron among those held, but police did not name the detainees. Orbán accused the government of targeting him through his brother, as Prime Minister Péter Magyar shared the report identifying Áron.
Hungarian police announced four detentions on suspicion of people smuggling on 9 November.[1], [2]
Local reporting identified Áron Orbán, the younger brother of former prime minister Viktor Orbán, among those held. Police did not disclose the detainees’ identities or confirm Áron by name. Reports also linked the raids to his business associates.[1]
Prime Minister Péter Magyar shared a report identifying the former premier’s brother. The initial report came from Kontroll, owned by Magyar’s brother Márton. Viktor Orbán alleged that the government was using his younger brother to target him, divert attention from other problems and eliminate political opponents. Those accusations were his response to the investigation. Áron had built several businesses during his brother’s period in office.[1]
A Telex investigation last year linked Áron and associates to an alleged arrangement involving visas for foreign workers. The current detentions concern suspected offences, with the police announcement leaving identities undisclosed. Viktor Orbán’s restrictive immigration policy had been central to his 16 years in power. Magyar ended that period with a landslide election victory in April, after promising investigations into alleged corruption and abuse of power under the previous administration.[1]
