Hungary Police Probing COVID Vaccine Critics (Worthy News In-depth)
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News reporting from Budapest, Hungary
(Worthy News) – Hungary’s police have launched a fresh crackdown on people who publicly express doubts about coronavirus vaccines or mask-wearing in the European Union nation.
Lieutenant Colonel Kristóf Gál, a National Police Headquarters spokesman, said law enforcement already “raised charges” against “a suspected virus skeptic” for “spreading false information in connection with coronavirus.”
He confirmed that the National Office of Investigations, Hungary’s version of the FBI, last December “started investigating virus skeptics who spread fake news.”
Gál said “the suspect” made public statements “against mask-wearing as well as questioning the dangers of the coronavirus epidemic.”
The spokesman warned that “Further suspects are under investigation.” It was unclear whether journalists were among those facing charges amid controversial government measures.
Gál defended the crackdown saying the “widely circulated statements were, in the opinion of the police, liable to undermine epidemiological protection measures.”
SCORES THREATENED
The latest police actions came after last year security forces under hardline Prime Minister Viktor Orbán already launched scores of proceedings against those questioning pandemic measures.
Worthy News established that police even raided the home of János Csóka-Szűcs in the history-filled Hungarian town of Gyula, 235 kilometers (146 miles) southeast of Budapest.
He had questioned the emptying of hospitals with thousands of seriously ill people for coronavirus patients, and he supported critical voices.
The elderly agriculture engineer said last year ten heavily armed police entered his home after calling for a protest against coronavirus policies and restrictions on social media site Facebook.
“We are calling on motorists to take the route to the town hall on Monday afternoon after work or shopping, between five and half-past five to please honk their horns,” he said he wrote. The post was published in April 2020.
Days later, the doorbell rang at six in the morning, he recalled. “I walked out in pajamas. The agents said: ‘we are here because of your Facebook post.” They stormed into the house, which was soon filled with policemen.”
HOUSE SEARCH
He added that they “went to do a house search. And they took my computer and phone. I handed over my computer and phone, notebook, and USB [computer] stick. They said they arrested me.”
He was held for several hours and potentially could face up to fines or even up to five years imprisonment under controversial measures.
Éva Csóka-Szűcs, his wife, said it was a frightening experience. “At first, I thought it was a friend playing a joke with a hidden camera. And that we were being fooled. But after a while, I realized: ‘this is serious.’ Then despair took over.”
The police move comes while the Orbán government is aggressively pushing coronavirus vaccines on the population. Critics say it is cracking down on dissent, including those questing side effects.
Hungarians told Worthy News they have mixed feelings about the many Russian and Chinese vaccines being rolled out.
On Saturday, it loosened several COVID-19 restrictions but only for people with government-issued immunity cards.
PLASTIC CARDS
Since last Saturday, individuals with the plastic cards may enter indoor dining rooms, hotels, theaters, cinemas, spas, gyms, libraries, museums, and other recreational venues.
Some of Hungary’s famed spas in iconic buildings have also opened for the happy few. Opening hours for businesses were extended to 11 p.m., and an overnight curfew in place since November will now start later, at midnight. Worthy News witnessed police and army patrolling streets to enforce regulations.
Hungary also is the only one of the EU’s 27 nations to use vaccines from China and Russia in addition to Western jabs.
The government is trying to counter possible EU moves to issue such travel certificates only to those who received vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency.
The EMA has not included the vaccines made in China and Russia but announced this week to investigate the Chinese version.
Orbán, who seeks re-election next year, also wants to ensure that the coronavirus pandemic will not overshadow his chances, critics say. Authorities claim more than 28,000 people died of the coronavirus on a population of nearly 10 million.
Hungary is among the nations with the highest coronavirus death rates per capita despite having inoculated roughly half of the adult population, officials say. Most of those who died had underlying conditions, including high blood pressure, according to statistics seen by Worthy News.