Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto called his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on June 24, 2023, offering assistance as the Wagner Group’s rebellion unfolded. According to investigative portal VSquare, Szijjarto sought reassurance that the situation was under control and repeatedly offered help.
Transcriptions and audio recordings of the conversation were obtained and verified by a consortium of investigative agencies, including VSquare, FRONTSTORY, Delfi Estonia, The Insider, and the Jan Kuciak Investigative Center (ICJK). The call occurred on the same day that Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin openly turned against Russia’s military command, accusing the army of attacking a Wagner camp and vowing revenge against Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
A call for reassurance
– Good morning, I just wanted to check if the situation is under control and if everything is all right with you? – Szijjarto asked at the start of the conversation.
– Absolutely under control, the president said everything that needed to be said. Don’t worry, we will keep the situation under control. – Lavrov replied.
Szijjarto also asked whether the authorities had stopped the Wagner march on Moscow and whether reports of the president and prime minister leaving the capital were false. Lavrov assured the Hungarian diplomat that Moscow was managing the situation.
– Is everything personally all right with you? – Szijjarto inquired.
– Absolutely. Absolutely. – Lavrov responded.
The Hungarian minister then added: – If you ever need anything, just let me know.
Lavrov laughed and replied: – I don’t need anything. No problem. Thank you for the call.
The Wagner rebellion and its aftermath
Within hours of Prigozhin’s declaration, armed mercenaries moved toward Moscow. The march was halted on the evening of June 24. Several months later, Prigozhin died in a plane crash. The leaked call sheds light on Budapest’s stance during the crisis – a willingness to support Moscow even as it faced an internal threat.
Investigative journalists have in recent months revealed other conversations between Szijjarto and Russian officials. Those discussions reportedly covered topics such as removing individuals designated by Moscow from EU sanctions lists. The revelations contribute to a growing picture of Hungary’s diplomatic alignment with Russia despite EU unity on the war in Ukraine.
Źródło: Polsat News, Fot. Polsat News
