Former Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban has accused the country’s new government of political persecution after a report that police detained his younger brother on suspicion of people smuggling, Al Jazeera reported Monday.

The reported arrest of Aron Orban was first disclosed by Kontroll, a news site owned by Marton Magyar, the brother of current Prime Minister Peter Magyar. The prime minister shared the report.

Authorities said four people had been detained on suspicion of people smuggling. However, police did not confirm whether Aron Orban was among them, according to local media cited by Al Jazeera. Police raids involved his business associates.

Viktor Orban alleged that the government was using his brother to distract from other issues. “I am the real target. My younger brother is simply being used to get to me,” he wrote on X.

Al Jazeera also cited a Telex investigation published last year that linked Aron Orban and his business associates to an alleged scheme involving visas for foreign guest workers.

Peter Magyar won a landslide election victory in April, ending Viktor Orban’s 16 years in power. Magyar had promised to investigate alleged corruption and abuse of power under his predecessor, whose opposition to immigration was a defining feature of his government.

Sources