Hungary Accused of Spying on EU Anti-Fraud Investigators

According to a joint investigation by the Hungarian portal Direkt36 and the Belgian publication De Tijd, Hungary’s Intelligence Authority (IH) may have conducted surveillance on representatives of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) during their visits to the country between 2015 and 2017.

Reports indicate that OLAF representatives, who were investigating a company linked to the family of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, were subjected to various forms of surveillance. The methods employed by the intelligence service reportedly included physical monitoring during trips, wiretapping phone calls, and searching hotel rooms, where information from laptops may have been copied.

The investigation reveals that such actions are a routine practice by Hungarian intelligence services when dealing with EU delegations.

Previously, Budapest had faced repeated accusations of employing spyware to hack the phones of journalists, activists, and opposition politicians. In 2021, a Hungarian parliamentarian confirmed the government’s purchase of Israeli surveillance software. In 2023, a cyberattack also targeted a Member of the European Parliament who had been critical of Hungary’s leadership.

OLAF declined to comment on the specific allegations but emphasized the importance of conducting its investigations without external interference. The agency reaffirmed its commitment to working with partners while adhering strictly to the principles of the rule of law.

Representatives from Orbán’s office dismissed the reports as “fake news” and stated they would not respond to such claims.