Archive

Illusztráció: Szarvas / Telex

Hungary’s diplomats with controversial backgrounds caught up in an investigation by international journalists

Direkt36 has been part of the "Shadow Diplomats" project, an investigation into the murky world of honorary consuls, led by
Russian spy chief's son has a Budapest home address. In the company property of an old friend of Orbán's chief of staff

Russian spy chief’s son has a Budapest home address. In the company property of an old friend of Orbán’s chief of staff

Official document shows that Andrey Naryshkin, who acquired residency permit in the Hungarian golden visa scheme, had his registered home
Inside Viktor Orbán’s Response to the War in Ukraine

Inside Viktor Orbán’s Response to the War in Ukraine

Viktor Orbán came home from his talks with Vladimir Putin saying that he did not expect war. When it did
The inside story of how Pegasus was brought to Hungary

The inside story of how Pegasus was brought to Hungary

Direkt36 has revealed that the cyber weapon was purchased by the Hungarian state through a broker company that later became
Áron Orbán promotes both diet-food and weapons. Meanwhile, pro-government businessmen are popping up around him

Áron Orbán promotes both diet-food and weapons. Meanwhile, pro-government businessmen are popping up around him

The company of the prime minister's brother runs a shop of Norbert Schobert's chain in Croatia. The gun shop he
A Panama-iratok kiszivárogtatója szerint az orosz kormány végezni akar vele

A Panama-iratok kiszivárogtatója szerint az orosz kormány végezni akar vele

The revelations about offshore firms brought to light by the source behind the Panama Papers toppled government leaders and spawned
How state funds help the miracle business of a top minister’s former wife

How state funds help the miracle business of a top minister’s former wife

We have revealed where the money comes from for Cecília Rogán-Gaál's tabloid’s publishing house
Western allies puzzled by Hungary's mild reaction to Russian hacking

Western allies puzzled by Hungary’s mild reaction to Russian hacking

Russia's hacking of the Hungarian foreign ministry is a concern for the EU, and the U.S. has already warned Hungary
Leaked files of Uber reveal secret lobbying operations in Hungary

Leaked files of Uber reveal secret lobbying operations in Hungary

As part of an international investigative project, Direkt36 has gained access to the lobbying files of Uber, the world’s most
Sinking ground on the Paks II nuclear power plant site could further delay the project

Sinking ground on the Paks II nuclear power plant site could further delay the project

The Hungarian authority assessing the plans of Russian Rosatom will have to make a decision whether safe construction above a
Orbán government keeps silent about Russian residency bond owners - even as the EU prepares to end the practice

Orbán government keeps silent about Russian residency bond owners – even as the EU prepares to end the practice

Fidesz MEPs did not vote for the revision of the visas already issued. Several beneficiaries of Putin's regime have previously
Cables show how Orbán’s diplomats gather information on journalists

Cables show how Orbán’s diplomats gather information on journalists

The information contained in these documents was gathered by diplomats of the Orbán government from social media profiles of journalists
Inside the opposition's crushing defeat against Viktor Orbán

Inside the opposition’s crushing defeat against Viktor Orbán

The chaos was even bigger inside the campaign than it looked from the outside. Direkt36 has investigated how the opposition,
(Magyar) Szerző: Szarvas/Telex

The cost of the MNB’s new prestige investment, given to a friend of Matolcsy’s son, has been very high

The bank headed by György Matolcsy has spent tens of billions of public money on the renovation of the Postal
The attorney became a Pegasus target when one of Hungary's most notorious murder cases took a turn

The attorney became a Pegasus target when one of Hungary’s most notorious murder cases took a turn

Ilona Patócs is not the first lawyer to be targeted, despite the fact that protecting client communication is an essential
Putin's hackers gained full access to Hungary's foreign ministry networks, the Orbán government has been unable to stop them

Putin’s hackers gained full access to Hungary’s foreign ministry networks, the Orbán government has been unable to stop them

Russian state actors hacked into the Hungarian Foreign Ministry's computer network compromising internal correspondence and even a secure network that
Former Hungarian ambassador to China was targeted with Pegasus – shortly before becoming senior advisor to Orbán

Former Hungarian ambassador to China was targeted with Pegasus – shortly before becoming senior advisor to Orbán

Cecília Szilas is not the first high-ranking Hungarian official who was targeted with the Pegasus spyware. Her phone was added
Inside Viktor Orbán’s war for Index, Hungary’s most influential news website

Inside Viktor Orbán’s war for Index, Hungary’s most influential news website

Index had long been a primary target for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s media crackdown. The final assault came in the
Inside Orbán’s Fidesz party preparing for Hungary’s parliamentary election

Inside Orbán’s Fidesz party preparing for Hungary’s parliamentary election

For some time now, all government proposals land on PM Orbán's desk with green, yellow, or red post-its. People with
"Please, don't report about this at all! Thanks!" - How the Hungarian state news agency censors politically unpleasant news

“Please, don’t report about this at all! Thanks!” – How the Hungarian state news agency censors politically unpleasant news

Documents obtained by Direkt36 show how the government dictates the news at Hungarian state news agency MTI. Self-censorship also plays