Leaked Audio of Hungarian Foreign Minister's Calls
Leaked audio recordings of conversations between Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, reveal active coordination between the two countries regarding European Union sanctions policy. The tapes contain discussions about removing relatives and associates of Russian business and political elites from the EU's sanctions lists. Hungary, often in tandem with Slovakia, has repeatedly initiated efforts to have specific individuals delisted.
Direct Requests and Delistings
Following a trip to Saint Petersburg on August 30, Péter Szijjártó received a call from Sergey Lavrov just one hour after returning to Budapest. Lavrov conveyed a request from oligarch Alisher Usmanov to have his sister, Gulbakhor Ismailova, removed from the EU sanctions list. In response, Szijjártó stated:
“The thing is, together with the Slovaks, we are submitting a proposal to the European Union to exclude her from the list. We will submit it next week, and since a new review period is starting, this issue will be included on the agenda, and we will do everything possible to have her removed from the list.”
Seven months after this conversation, Gulbakhor Ismailova was indeed removed from the EU sanctions list. She was delisted alongside:
- businessman Vyacheslav Moshe Kantor
- Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyaryov
Hungary and Slovakia actively promoted expanded lists of individuals for removal during sanctions negotiations. This activity occurs against the backdrop of ongoing EU efforts to maintain a united front against Russia.
During the latest round of negotiations on extending sanctions in March, Hungary and Slovakia insisted on the removal of Alisher Usmanov himself. Talks lasted until March 14, after which the parties agreed to renew the sanctions, keeping both Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman on the list. Hungarian investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi has suggested that Hungarian government and private aircraft may have been used to transport cash and valuables out of Russia. According to Panyi, similar intelligence had appeared in EU and NATO security services as early as 2016-2017.
The leaked recordings thus indicate Hungary's deep involvement in processes related to EU sanctions policy and its close contacts with Russia concerning the delisting of individuals. This information raises questions about potential political and economic consequences for EU-Russia relations and poses a possible challenge to the unity of the EU's sanctions policy. It also highlights critical issues of transparency and accountability for EU member state governments engaged in such negotiations.
The recent revelations about Hungary's lobbying efforts raise questions about the broader implications of these actions on EU policies. Notably, a separate investigation has uncovered how the Hungarian Foreign Minister has actively contributed to Russian attempts to undermine the effectiveness of EU sanctions. For a deeper analysis of these troubling developments, you can read more in our detailed report on how Hungary's foreign minister supported Russian efforts.