Orbán's brother sought to have another Ukrainian convoy intercepted in Austria
Photo: Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (Getty Images)
The younger brother of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Áron, tried shortly before the election to arrange for another Ukrainian cash shipment to be intercepted in Austria. His contact refused and informed the intelligence services, according to an investigation by the Hungarian outlet 444. Journalists published correspondence between Áron Orbán and businessman Csongor Lászlóvári-Toma, who lives in Graz, Austria.
Áron Orbán wrote to the businessman on March 26, just over two weeks before Hungary's parliamentary election. The two men met six years ago through a mutual acquaintance but had not communicated for a long time.
The prime minister's brother immediately got to the point. First, he asked whether Lászlóvári-Toma was still involved in politics. In 2021, the businessman ran for Graz city council on the Austrian People's Party ticket but did not win a seat. Orbán then asked how much influence he had in Austria.
Orbán later said that a shipment was passing through Austria and sent a link to a television program about the detention of a Ukrainian convoy in Hungary. He clarified that he was referring to another, new convoy, not the one that was stopped in early March.
He then asked directly whether the Austrians could intercept it. According to 444, Orbán also offered to put the businessman in contact with a person who knew when and exactly where the vehicle would be in Austria.
Lászlóvári-Toma refused to take part in the scheme. He reported the correspondence to the Austrian intelligence services and the leadership of the Austrian People's Party. The businessman also showed the messages to lawyer Lóránt Horváth, who represents the interests of the Ukrainian cash-in-transit officers.
According to the businessman, Áron Orbán had previously approached him with questionable proposals, including ones involving the purchase of military equipment. His company operates in the arms trade, but he had refused such proposals.
444 verified that the number from which the messages were sent indeed belongs to Áron Orbán. Neither he nor Viktor Orbán responded to journalists' questions.
The "gold convoy" scandal erupted on the night of March 6. Hungary's Counter-Terrorism Centre (TEK) stopped two armored Oschadbank vehicles on the M5 highway carrying $40 million, 35 million euros, and 9 kg of gold from Austria's Raiffeisen Bank to Kyiv.
Seven cash-in-transit officers were questioned and expelled from the country, while Budapest kept the valuables, citing suspicions of money laundering. Representatives of Orbán's party hinted that the funds could have been intended for the opposition Tisza party.
On March 12, Hungary returned the cash-in-transit vehicles, some of whose equipment had been damaged.
In August, Hungary's Tax and Customs Administration closed the criminal case against the cash-in-transit officers due to the absence of elements of a crime.
