Hungarian police pledge to investigate the criminal liability of all the Budapest Pride organisers

The organisers of the Budapest Pride event scheduled for Saturday have failed to coordinate with the police, the communications department of the national police headquarters (ORFK) said on the official website on Thursday, adding: “Organisers will bear responsibility”

Commenting on press reports, the statement said that the Budapest municipality and the Szivárvány Misszió Foundation had not cancelled the event called Budapest Pride, despite a police decision banning it. On the information received so far, the police are handling the gathering as a banned assembly, the statement said. Organisers are expecting “a sizable crowd”.

The police, at the same time, have received no information on the safety measures taken, and authorities have not been consulted, the statement said. “The weather expected on Saturday and the large crowd are risk factors,” the police said. The statement said that the organisers were in violation of Section 217/C of the Penal Code regarding violence during public assemblies. “The organisers are also responsible for any damage caused during the assembly,” the statement said.

Further, the organisers have ignored the fact that the authorities have already approved other gatherings to the planned venue of the banned event, the statement said. The authorities will investigate the criminal responsibility of all organisers, it added. “Ensuring the security of the event lies with the organisers. The police will fulfil all its duties … regarding the event,” the statement said.

Mayor Karácsony enthusiastic, MP Hadházy warns

Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony said the Orbán cabinet would become ridiculous at this year’s Pride march. He also said he would like to be the first to officiate the marriage of a same-sex couple in Hungary. Opposition MP Ákos Hadházy said the Hungarian government would test its face-recognition system.

Meanwhile, Előd Novák, an MP from the radical right-wing party Mi Hazánk (Our Homeland), pledged to halt the march.

Read also:

• Hungary’s top court said no on rainbow march, Budapest Pride accepting police decision – here’s Mayor Karácsony’s reaction
• Budapest on the brink of financial collapse, public transport may halt this summer, but Budapest Pride will be held on Saturday