Leaked call shows Szijjártó discussing EU sanctions removal with Russia's Lavrov

Published connected 31/03/2026 - 12:51 GMT+2•Updated 12:53

A radical of investigative journalists connected Tuesday released a signaling of a telephone telephone betwixt Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, successful which Szijjártó offered to assistance successful removing a Russian oligarch’s sister from EU sanctions astatine Lavrov’s request.

In the 94-second signaling published connected YouTube and disclosed by the investigative outlet Insider, Lavrov asked Szijjártó to assistance region Gulbahor Ismailova — the sister of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov — from the EU's sanctions list.

"I americium calling astatine the petition of Alisher, and helium conscionable asked maine to punctual you that you were doing thing astir his sister," Lavrov told Szijjártó. The Hungarian curate responds by saying that "together with the Slovaks, we are submitting a connection to the European Union to delist her."

The signaling comes arsenic Szijjártó faces contention pursuing a study by the Washington Post that helium has been sharing delicate accusation with Russia during Foreign Affairs Council meetings successful Brussels.

The ungraded has emerged arsenic Hungary prepares for parliamentary elections connected 12 April, with overseas interference and the government’s adjacent ties to Moscow among the cardinal run issues.

Szijjártó has defended his actions, arguing that speaking with Russian officials earlier and aft specified meetings is portion of regular diplomatic practice.

The speech betwixt Szijjártó and Lavrov was recorded connected 30 August 2024 by chartless parties, aft Szijjártó returned from Saint Petersburg to Budapest.

Szijjártó told Lavrov that helium would taxable a connection to region Ismailova's sanction from the EU sanctions database "next week," and "as the caller reappraisal play begins, it volition beryllium enactment connected the docket — we volition bash our champion to get her off," Szijjártó said.

Under EU rules, sanctions indispensable beryllium renewed each six months by unanimity. Ismailova, on with Russian businessman Viacheslav Moshe Kantor and sports curate Mikhail Degtyaryov, was removed from the EU sanctions database successful March 2025.

The European Union severed governmental ties with Russia pursuing its full-scale penetration of Ukraine successful 2022 and has urged subordinate states to gradually signifier retired Russian fossil fuels.

Hungary and Slovakia person maintained regular high-level contacts with Russian officials and proceed to import important volumes of Russian energy.

Following the work of the recording, Szijjártó downplayed the incidental and accused overseas quality services of tapping his phone.

"It has been known for immoderate clip that overseas concealed services — with the progressive information of Hungarian journalists — person been intercepting my telephone conversations. Today, the eavesdroppers made different large 'discovery': they proved that I accidental the aforesaid happening successful nationalist arsenic connected the phone. Nice work!" helium wrote.

The curate added that his authorities had ne'er agreed to authorisation entities captious to Hungary’s vigor information and had opposed listing individuals erstwhile sanctions served nary wide purpose. “We volition proceed to adhere to this attack successful the future,” helium said.

The European Commission has said earlier that the allegations regarding Szijjártó's behaviour during Foreign Affairs Council meetings are a substance of interest and necessitate clarification from Budapest.

In the recording, Lavrov besides told Szijjártó that the Hungarian curate has been receiving extended sum successful Russian media.

"Did I accidental thing wrong?" Szijjártó asked.

"No. They were conscionable saying that you are pragmatically warring for the interests of your country," Lavrov replied.