Orbán appointed a suspect in the Oschadbank case as head of Fidesz's security detail
Viktor Orbán, leader of the Hungarian Fidesz party and former Prime Minister of Hungary, announced a new appointment.
János Hajdu, who previously headed the country’s Counterterrorism Center and was involved in a high-profile investigation into the detention of cash collectors from Ukraine’s Oschadbank, has been named head of the party’s security service.
“Anyone who wants to intimidate us should have woken up earlier. Welcome back on board, General,” the politician wrote.
János Hajdu is known as the former director general of Hungary’s Counter-Terrorism Center. His name was mentioned among those implicated in a pre-trial investigation being conducted by the country’s new government as part of the case involving the detention of cash transporters from Ukraine’s Oschadbank near Budapest.
According to the investigation, the Counter-Terrorism Center played a key role in this operation, which subsequently became the subject of a high-profile political and legal scandal in Hungary.
Despite the potential legal risks for the former official, Orbán entrusted him with leading the security wing of the Fidesz party, demonstrating his support for his ally amid the investigation.
János Hajdu’s appointment has already drawn the attention of political observers, as it came at a time when Hungarian authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case involving Oschadbank’s cash collectors and the actions of law enforcement agencies.
Orbán announced his decision on his Facebook page.
The Hungarian prosecutor’s office is investigating the possible involvement of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and a number of high-ranking officials in the case of the detention of Ukrainian cash transporters from Oschadbank. This investigation concerns events that have already been unofficially dubbed the “golden convoy” and have caused a political stir.
Meanwhile, Hungarian attorney Lorant Horvath, who represents the interests of the Oschadbank cash collectors, has filed a motion to have former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and several other former high-ranking officials taken into custody in connection with the so-called “Ukrainian golden convoy” case.
