Jan is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and his work has been published by Al Jazeera, Mirror UK and History Channel. For periscope check @worldwithjan
‼️Statement on the Orbán Government Accusing Me, an Investigative Journalist, of Espionage‼️
Today, the Hungarian government has filed a complaint against me for espionage. Accusing investigative journalists of espionage is virtually unprecedented in the 21st century for an EU member state. This is typical of Putin’s Russia, Belarus, and similar regimes.
I have spent over a decade documenting how Russian spies and interests have penetrated Hungarian politics, so I am probably the least surprised by this.
Despite growing signs that the Hungarian government acts as a Kremlin ally and copies the Russian model, I still trust that parts of the Hungarian state—and the judiciary—follow the Hungarian constitution, not that of the Russian Federation.
I have never engaged in espionage. I see my work as journalistic counterintelligence—from exposing the hacking of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry by Russian actors to revealing the activities of Hungarian pro-Kremlin propagandists.
Defending myself publicly would be easier if I were not bound by source protection. But that remains my top priority. I cannot reveal who provides me information or what I receive, including from within Hungarian state structures.
If I were not a journalist, I could list many facts proving it is impossible for the Hungarian state to genuinely believe I am spying. Certain meetings, contacts, and information gathering could never have happened otherwise.
This baseless accusation now forces me to share details of a specific investigation, including a conversation with a confidential source that appears to have been wiretapped. Normally, this would appear in a finished article or my upcoming book—not here. (It will appear there as well.)
Since 2023, I have investigated whether the relationship between Péter Szijjártó and Russian officials exceeds legal limits. The published audio, where I’m heard talking to a source, mentions that communication between Szijjártó and Sergey Lavrov is recorded by EU intelligence services. Less attention has gone to my point that this relationship raises strong suspicion of political intelligence activity and influence operations in Russia’s interest.
These are serious claims and hard to prove. As a journalist, I cannot force anyone to speak or hand over documents. That is why gathering this information has taken so long—and why I spoke to that sensitive source (while the conversation was secretly recorded).
Serious claims require serious evidence, and I believe I have gathered some. I have not engaged in espionage.
I have not cooperated with any foreign intelligence service in surveilling Szijjártó. Instead, I tried to verify earlier fragments of information about Szijjártó–Lavrov communication.
I sought to identify the channels and phone numbers used, and whether a secret channel—possibly used by Russian intelligence—exists. In other words, whether Szijjártó uses a hidden device or number unknown even within the Hungarian Foreign Ministry.
This was only one part of my research. The other, more serious topic is this:
Since at least 2016–2017, EU and NATO intelligence services have had indications that large amounts of cash and precious stones may have been transported from Russia on Hungarian government aircraft or private jets used by government figures. Officials from at least six countries made such claims to me.
These signals did not come from monitoring Hungarian targets, but, for example, from intercepting Russian officials discussing or preparing such shipments.
Alongside Szijjártó–Lavrov communication, I examined how baggage screening and handling works on such flights, which officials travel with what luggage, whether more packages arrive from Moscow than depart, and how such shipments could be handled discreetly.
I know how serious this is, and I would not have written even this much—but since I do not know what else may be taken from the edited recording, or what fabricated accusations (like, for example, that I was seeking such details to commit terrorism) may follow, I believe I must share this now.
Why do I investigate all this?
According to many sources familiar with the Hungarian state and counterintelligence, there is no independent body in the Orbán system able to investigate or act if a senior official is suspected of espionage.
Government members direct intelligence services and set expectations. The services lack both tools and authority to investigate a government member.
I knew this would be difficult when I chose to pursue it. But few people in Hungary can or dare to do this, so I felt it was my duty.
We have now reached the point where the Orbán government—of which Szijjártó is still a member—aware of my reporting plans and the risk they pose, has preemptively accused me of espionage.
I am a Hungarian patriot. I serve the public. As an investigative journalist, my job is to hold power accountable. Neither political theater nor legal threats will deter me.
Someone spun up a social network for AI agents.
Almost immediately some agents began strategizing how to establish covert communications channels to communicate without human observation.
In many cases the agents are on machines that have access to personal user data.
"Privacy breach" as a sort of static term is going to be the wrong way to describe what is coming.
🇸🇰 Fundamental rights are under attack in Slovakia!
The Slovak Parliament has passed a constitutional amendment that:
❌ Bans gender transition, erasing the lived experiences of trans people
❌ Denies rights to same-sex families, defining parents only as a man and a woman
❌ Undermines EU law and international human rights, allowing Slovakia to disregard its obligations
This is a direct assault on liberal democracy, equality and European values. The EU must act.
Full statement from ALDE Party President @svenja_hahn and Vice-President @LuciaPlavakova: https://t.co/IbZwk0Xrw4
Irish President Michael D. Higgins calls for the UN to establish a military intervention in Gaza that "guarantees humanitarian access" even if the Security Council vetoes the initiative.
https://t.co/Sax7oauTXq
Slovak photojournalist and filmmaker Jan Husar, and former Ambassador to Beijing, Mohamed Faisal met with our Director General and team to discuss opportunities for cultural exchange through art and photography here's to building creative bridges between Slovakia and the Maldives
An Eastern European Official has told the German Newspaper, BILD, that discussions are ongoing in regards to the withdrawal of U.S. Troops from all Countries in Europe that joined the NATO Alliance after 1990, which is reported to have been one of the Goals of recent Negotiations between Russia and the United States. This would include Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden. Additionally, preparations are said to be ongoing in Italy, for the possible withdrawal of U.S. Forces from Kosovo.
The safety of @UN personnel & property must be guaranteed.
The inviolability of UN premises must be respected at all times.
Attacks against peacekeepers are in breach of international law & may constitute a war crime.
@UNIFIL_ personnel & premises must never be targeted.
This 2024 our nonprofit organization is transitioning from successful Military training, advising, use of non-lethal equipment, and EOD-demining support to the Ukrainian military that was provided from the beginning of the war in 2022-2023.
To developing innovative technological and tactical solutions to problems Ukrainian units encountered during the attempted 2023 counter-offensive. Learn more and donate to our PayPal fundraiser at the link below ⬇️
https://t.co/CwLmQJG3vD
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