In the lead-up to Hungary’s recent parliamentary elections, a covert operation involving the interception of nearly €70 million in cash and gold belonging to Ukraine’s state-owned Oschadbank has drawn renewed scrutiny toward former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his political network. The incident, which occurred on March 5 near Budapest, triggered the seizure of two vehicles carrying the funds and the detention of seven bank employees by anti-terror police.
The Orbán campaign initially framed the seizure as evidence of illicit support from Kyiv to opposition forces. However, officials later confirmed that the transfer was a routine money movement from Vienna to Kyiv, leading to the return of the assets and the release of the detained individuals.
The affair has since become a focal point in a broader initiative spearheaded by Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s administration, known as "Operation Cleansing Fire," aimed at dismantling what Magyar described as Orbán’s "economic and political mafia." Magyar has called for further interrogations and suggested that the investigation into Orbán’s activities is approaching a critical juncture.
Orbán’s Fidesz party denied any direct involvement by the former prime minister in ordering the vehicle seizures. A spokesperson characterized the allegations as politically motivated and dismissed them as self-destructive tactics by the current ruling party. Nonetheless, Pál Fürcht, a former prosecutor who initially worked on the case, asserted that Orbán personally instructed security services to apprehend the Ukrainian couriers. Fürcht stated that following his report of these findings to higher authorities, he faced disciplinary measures and an internal review, although the general prosecutor’s office rejected claims of suppression.
Supporting Fürcht’s account is a prosecution report citing Vános Hajdú, former head of Hungary’s anti-terror police unit TEK, who implied that the arrests were ordered by a figure immune from prosecution—widely understood to be Orbán. Hajdú himself was removed from his TEK position and reassigned to manage security for Fidesz. He faces allegations of unlawful detention and mistreatment of the Ukrainian employees but denies any misconduct.
Legal defense attorney Lóránt Horváth, representing both the detained bank staff and Fürcht, noted that this case is the closest to formal charges against Orbán amid a constellation of corruption probes. The investigation by Hungary’s tax authority into the Ukrainian cash convoy was closed for lack of evidence, underscoring Horváth’s assertion that ultimate responsibility rests with Orbán.
On the day of the raid, Orbán visited TEK headquarters, citing concerns about heightened terrorism threats linked to US and Israeli actions in Iran. Images and videos from his social media show him in the company of officials reportedly involved in the raid later that day. After Orbán’s departure, TEK officers intercepted the Ukrainian convoy on a Budapest motorway, detaining the employees under handcuffs and blindfolds for several hours.
Beyond this incident, several other high-profile figures connected to Orbán have come under investigation. Hungarian parliament has lifted immunity for two former ministers, Miklós Seszták and Balázs Hankó, who face corruption allegations. Prominent businessmen tied to Orbán have also been arrested, while György Matolcsy, former central bank governor and economy minister, has been questioned over abuse of office claims. Matolcsy and his son deny wrongdoing.
Analysts suggest that the accumulation of these cases adds momentum to efforts to hold Orbán personally accountable. Eurasia Group’s Orsolya Ráczová described the investigations as a sustained priority for Magyar’s government, signaling ongoing attempts to unravel Orbán’s influence. Magyar himself has expressed confidence that growing legal pressure will prompt defections within Orbán’s circle, potentially leading to plea deals and witness testimonies implicating the former prime minister. "We shall see how long the Fidesz mafia observes the omertà—the law of silence," Magyar stated, emphasizing the government’s determination to pursue justice.