Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó colludes with Russia to delist sanctioned oligarchs and obstruct EU sanctions

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó engaged in covert communications and collusion with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin from 2023-2026, providing Moscow strategic intelligence and actively working to delist Russian oligarchs, companies, and banks from EU sanctions lists. Szijjártó helped remove Gulbahor Ismailova (sister of Kremlin-favored oligarch Alisher Usmanov) from the EU blacklist, coordinated with Slovakia in blocking and delaying sanctions extensions, and sought to repeal EU sanctions targeting Russia's shadow oil tanker fleet and key Russian banks. The collusion was confirmed by audio transcripts verified by multiple investigative outlets and expert analysis. Szijjártó shared confidential EU diplomatic meeting details with Moscow, undermining EU unity and sanctions policy. The efforts align with Kremlin strategy to weaken EU sanctions and influence EU politics, coinciding with Russian assistance to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government ahead of the April 12, 2026 elections. The investigation reveals Hungary acting as a Kremlin political asset within the EU, threatening EU sanctions regime and security interests.