The Russian Government may have turned away from the Convention, but not all Russians did; those who defy the Putin regime and oppose the war on Ukraine risk are paying an extremely high price. In this scenario, the Court should not be a bystander.

“Not since the end of the 1980s has Hungary allowed the secret services to systematically target politics and public discourse in this way,” ⁦⁦Márta Pardavi⁩ ⁦⁦⁦⁦Hungarian Helsinki Committee⁩ said about the new Sovereignty Protection Law. ft.com/content/fa45b0…

For Visegrad Insight, I predicted that Orban will continue to fine-tune one of his most insidious innovations: persecution without imprisonment. 1/2
visegradinsight.eu/mega-what-is-v…

Some of you are looking for a video link to the full version of sunday's performance, not just a snippet and in the best quality possible. Good news! Recording Academy / GRAMMYs published it on their website. Click on the link in the first thread to watch it. Enjoy 🤩

#Grammys #tracychapman

What does the Sovereignty Protection Office's investigation mean in practice?
How can the SPO use classified information?
What is the amendment to the Criminal Code?
Is this a copy of the Russian foreign agent law?
We got these and many more Qs covered 👇
helsinki.hu/en/wp-content/…

Lots of disinfo and misunderstanding surround Hungary's recent attempt to silence dissent. This new Q&A, prepared together with Amnesty Hungary, helps make sense of what the Sovereignty Protection Act is and what it isn't.

Full analysis, providing
-an overview of the Act and the related amendment to the Fundamental Law;
-a summary of the Constitutional Court's interpretation of the underlying concepts of the Act;
-a non-exhaustive list of potential breaches of EU law👇
helsinki.hu/en/wp-content/…

Our new analysis highlights the plethora of EU law breaches Hungary's Sovereignty Protection Act poses. Together with Amnesty Hungary, we also call for the expedited procedure of the European Commission, including requesting the suspension of the Act as an interim measure at the CJEU

We welcome that the @EuropeanCommission launched today an infringement action against the Hungarian 'sovereignty defence law', based also on Art.2 TEU.
We need a fast process, and as soon as possible, the suspension of the law to minimise its harmful effects.

The U.S. ambassador to #Hungary , as well as other #NATO ambassadors attended the extraordinary parliament meeting called by the opposition to vote on #Sweden 's NATO bid. MPs from PM #Orban 's Fidesz did not. hvg.hu/itthon/2024020…

Tracy Chapman, who has not performed in public in years, performs 'Fast Car' with Luke Combs at the #Grammys :

“The Biden Admin should be examining whether Hungary truly is a trusted partner deserving of participating in the Visa Waiver Program – and given the level of corruption, whether it is appropriate to initiate sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act.” foreign.senate.gov/press/dem/rele…

🇪🇺What do EU leaders really think of PM Orbán? Why did the EU Commission unfreeze funds for Hungary, and was it connected to Orbán's Ukrainian veto threat?

🎙️I interviewed Katalin Halmai, one of the best-sourced journalists in Brussels, for VSquare👇
vsquare.org/katalin-halmai…

📣Check out our data viz guide to the labyrinth of Hungary and the 30 billion euros of frozen EU funds
💶eufundshungary.helsinki.hu/en/

Our interactive data visualization helps understand what's at stake.

Collab atlatszo.hu Attila Bátorfy atlo.team

“A new procedure for the CJEU to turn to the HU Constitutional Court for a preliminary opinion ... creates a new avenue to contest the primacy of EU law, with direct reference to sovereignty. The whiff of Russian inspiration is hard to ignore …” Renáta Uitz in Verfassungsblog

‼️Hungary's government interfered with Slovakia's election campaign, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Hungary's Ákos Keller-Alánt found. Just like in Poland, Orbán's cabinet office paid for an online anti-migrant ad targeting Slovakia – when it was already election silence there. Link: adstransparency.google.com/advertiser/AR1…

Yesterday's trilogues on the EU Asylum Pact haven't led to an agreement yet. Many contentious issues remain open, incl.:
- Screening within the territory & scope of the fundamental rights monitoring mechanism
- Modalities of mandatory border procedures & safe country concepts

🧵

Had the pleasure to participate in this workshop this week. It's been very inspiring to work w similarly passionate experts on trying to ensure an EU agency's responsibility to comply w Fundamental Rights. Long way ahead, but we'll get there together.👏 ❤️front-LEX
Read study👇