Is Hungary turning its back on Russia?

Hungary is dependent on Russian gas but is trying to turn its back on Russia, says a political expert.

On 26 April, the UN member states voted in favour of a resolution officially declaring Russia an aggressor in the war in Ukraine. The decision was backed by 122 countries, including China, India and Hungary, among others, who had previously been Russia’s strategic partners.

Georgij Birkadze, a Georgian political and economic expert living in Ukraine, says this could be a turning point for Hungary. “So far Hungary was the only country in the European Union that supported Russia, but now they also voted for the UN resolution. Do you think they are beginning to understand that Russia is finished?” said Birkadze.

The expert believes that this could also contribute to Hungary’s EU bargaining policy. Index.hu writes that the stakes are high, as EU funds are vital for Hungary’s economy.

But now, the expert says, the debate is political rather than technical. Bloomberg reported earlier that the Hungarian parliament passed a law aimed at reducing the politicisation of the courts. This could help Hungary draw down EUR 13 billion in funding.

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