Hungary accused of ‘Putin-style’ attack on refugee groups
HUMAN rights activists in Hungary have attacked their own government over migration, accusing it of intimidating refugee help groups.
Hungary’s parliament is introducing legislation to reduce illegal immigration by targeting organisations it accuses of aiding the flow of people across the border.
Budapest has particularly attacked non-governmental organisations funded by George Soros, the Hungarian-american billionaire who the government says is plotting to flood Europe with migrants. A government spokesman has referred to the legislation as the “Stop Soros” bill.
Marta Pardavi, of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, one of the organisations that could suffer under the proposals, told The Daily Telegraph: “It is clear that it is intended to intimidate human rights groups that provide legal services and do advocacy work on refugee protection in Hungary.”
She added: “These proposals are part of a disgusting propaganda campaign targeting individuals and organisations that have the courage to stand up for human rights and European values. They are part of the Putin playbook.”
The laws will force organisations in receipt of foreign funding that are considered to aid illegal immigration to register and declare their activities. The government also intends taxing any foreign aid the NGOS receive, investing the money in border security.
The new laws would also allow restraining orders on those abetting illegal immigration by banning them from Hungary’s Schengen border. Ms Pardavi compared this to the restrictions placed on free movement by Hungary’s communist government in 1969. Budapest is standing firm, despite the prospect of souring relations with the EU, already under strain from its refusal to accept its EU quota of refugees.
“The Hungarian government opposes illegal immigration through every means possible,” it said.
“We need to strengthen the security of citizens. Our aim is that Europe should continue to be the best place on Earth to live.” The statement added that mass immigration posed a “serious security risk” to the region.