Orban Congratulates Putin On Reelection

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his reelection despite condemnation of the vote by many Western governments. Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said Orban congratulated Putin in a letter that also noted that the cooperation between Hungary and Russia "enables important discussions even in challenging geopolitical contexts." The European Union, of which Hungary is a member, said the election had been held "in a highly restricted environment exacerbated also by Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine." According to Orban, maintaining a dialogue is a "fundamental condition for establishing peace as soon as possible." To read the full story on RFE/RL's Hungarian Service, click here.