In Hungary, they reported the arrest of Viktor Orbán's brother
Law enforcement officers in Hungary are conducting a large-scale operation in a case involving illegal smuggling of people across the border. According to local media reports, Áron Orbán, the younger brother of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, may be among those detained. Acting Prime Minister Péter Magyar also reported the possible detention.
Hungarian publication Index reported this on November 9, citing law enforcement reports and statements by politicians.
Hungarian police confirmed conducting searches and detaining several people in Budapest and two settlements in Pest County. However, the names of those detained were not disclosed in the initial official statement.
The joint operation is being conducted by the National Investigation Bureau (NNI) and the National Asset Recovery and Protection Office (NVVH). Investigative actions are taking place within two criminal proceedings.
In a police statement, it was noted that officers are conducting searches at addresses of individuals involved in the investigation. Additional details were promised to be released later.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar stated on social media that, according to press reports, Áron Orbán was detained on suspicion of illegally smuggling people across the border.
However, there was no direct official confirmation of the detention of the former prime minister's brother at the time the initial reports appeared.
According to Telex, on the morning of November 9, officers from Hungary's Counter-Terrorism Centre arrived at a property in Fótliget linked to a company owned by Áron Orbán.
NVVH head Anna Unger neither confirmed nor denied reports that law enforcement officers were at that specific address. However, she said that the agency carried out new investigative actions in a case involving Áron Orbán.
Telex sources familiar with the businessman's entourage confirmed the operation took place, but could not establish whether he was personally detained.
The investigation is linked to possible violations in the issuance of Hungarian visas to Vietnamese citizens.
According to earlier publications by Hungarian journalists, a company owned by Áron Orbán may have facilitated the acquisition of Schengen visas by enrolling Vietnamese citizens in a two-day first aid course at the University of Pécs.
Such enrollment could have been used as a justification for obtaining documents for short-term entry to Hungary, and consequently, to the Schengen area.
Additionally, journalists previously reported that Áron Orbán had approached the then prime minister's authorized representative with a request to expedite the processing of certain visa applications.
Information about the possible scheme appeared before the current police operation. In 2024, Hungarian media published an audio recording of a conversation between Áron Orbán and a government official, during which visa processing issues were discussed.
In 2025, Telex journalists published an extensive investigation into the business connections of the then prime minister's brother and his possible influence on procedures for issuing permits to foreigners.
In April 2026, law enforcement officers detained several people in a criminal case related to these circumstances. At that time, the suspects included business partners of Áron Orbán, but not him.
Former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reacted to reports of his brother's possible detention, calling the actions of the current government political persecution.
According to Orbán, the government is using law enforcement agencies to fight political opponents and divert attention from other scandals.
"The target is me, my brother is only a tool," - the former head of government wrote.
Péter Magyar interpreted this statement as an indirect confirmation of Áron Orbán's detention. However, Viktor Orbán himself did not directly state his brother's procedural status.
The investigation has not yet released final conclusions regarding Áron Orbán's possible involvement in illegal people smuggling. His involvement in a criminal offense remains the subject of investigation.
