Alisher Usmanov

Hungary - Russia's secret agent in the EU or just a useful idiot?

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó collaborated with Russian officials including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to weaken EU sanctions, successfully delisting Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov's sister from sanctions within seven months, exemplifying how an EU member state undermined collective Western policy toward Russia.

Usmanov's press service responds to News.Az article regarding alleged sanctions removal efforts.

Investigators released a leaked phone recording revealing Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó offered Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov assistance removing a Russian oligarch's sanctioned sister from EU sanctions lists, intensifying controversy over Hungary's alleged information sharing with Russia ahead of April parliamentary elections.

Hungary's Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó denounced leaked audio recordings of his calls with Russia's foreign minister as a "major scandal," claiming foreign intelligence services wiretapped him to interfere in Hungary's parliamentary elections scheduled for April 12th.

The EU considers lifting sanctions on Niels Troost, a Dutch oil trader. Diplomats view the measures as 'legally weaker' than other listings.