Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that there have been attempts to “involve Hungary in a hot conflict” by spreading a fabricated story that could make the country a target.
He referred to the “fake news” about Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s supposed visit to Budapest as the most significant and “painful” event of the week.
In a public radio interview, Orbán explained that the spread of such misinformation was not only misleading but also dangerous, especially given the past impact of the Syrian conflict. He reminded of the massive wave of migration and terror attacks that swept Europe around 2015, resulting in the deaths of hundreds.
What is happening in Syria and its effect on Europe is no joke or fake news—it could turn bloody, he said.
Orbán emphasized that someone was actively working to make Hungary a target, suggesting that those who spread the rumors about Assad’s presence were trying to turn the country into a “hunting ground.” He raised questions about the origins of the hoax, asking,
Who is behind this? Who created it? What was their purpose? Who in Hungary was involved, and through whom was this lie spread? What did they hope to achieve?
