Right-wing protesters in front of the Sándor Palace on July 9
The Budapest Chief Prosecutor’s Office reviewed the case files of the investigation launched against right-wing influencer István Szakács and upheld the complaint challenging the charges, while rejecting the complaint regarding the search, seizure, and body search; the man’s status as a suspect has been revoked. For conservative, right-wing supporters the case represents more than a simple case of a criminal investigation.
The Budapest Chief Prosecutor’s Office told MTI on Friday that, in the criminal case initiated for the crime of threatening to commit a terrorist act, the investigating authority ordered a search, seizure, and body search of the man on July 7. István Szakács informed his followers about the new on his Facebook page, writing: “My friends, the news is true! The prosecutor’s office has dropped the charges against me! A huge thank you to Dr. Judit Czunyiné Bertalan and the FIDESZ Defense Line (Védvonal) for their help! Without you, I would not be free right now!”
Police carried out the coercive measures on July 8 at the man’s residence. Subsequently, the police took the man into custody and charged him with the crime of threatening to commit a terrorist act; the man filed a complaint against the charge, arguing that he had not committed a crime, they added.
The Office of the Chief Prosecutor reviewed the investigation files and determined that, based on the available evidence, the charges should not have been filed because there was no reasonable suspicion of a threat to commit a terrorist act.
However, the Prosecutor General’s Office rejected the complaint against the decision ordering the coercive measures carried out at the man’s residence, according to the statement.
The entire debacle is a major embarrassment for the Chief Prosecutor as well as the TISZA government, as the affair very much resembles a concerted effort to create a Polish-style tide of “lawfare” against Hungarian conservative voices. As Hungary Today reported, seven police officers arrived at the home before dawn on July 8, searched the property, restricted the family’s movements, and led István Szakács away in handcuffs in front of his wife and children over a Facebook post. Although prosecutors have now determined that there had been insufficient grounds to maintain the terrorism-related charge, the manner in which the operation was carried out has fueled concerns that criminal investigations are increasingly being used to intimidate outspoken conservative public figures.
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Via MTI; Featured photo: MTI/Illyés Tibor
