BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) 鈥 Hungary's most popular opposition figure called for the resignation of one of Prime Minister Viktor Orb谩n's closest aides on Thursday over statements he made suggesting that Hungary wouldn't have defended itself against a Russian invasion, unlike Ukraine.
The aide, Bal谩zs Orb谩n, who isn't related to the prime minister, said on his podcast on Wednesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had made an 鈥渋rresponsible鈥 decision by opting to militarily defend his country after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
He said that Hungary had learned from its 鈥 which was eventually crushed by the Red Army, killing as many as 3,000 civilians and destroying much of the capital Budapest 鈥 that 鈥減recious Hungarian lives鈥 must be treated with caution rather than 鈥渙ffering them up鈥 for defense.
鈥淓very country has the right to decide its own destiny for itself,鈥 Bal谩zs Orb谩n said. 鈥淏ut based on '56, we wouldn鈥檛 have done what President Zelenskyy did two and a half years ago, because that was irresponsible.鈥
The leader of Hungary鈥檚 strongest opposition party, P茅ter Magyar, wrote in a post on social media that the statement 鈥渉umiliated the memory of the thousands of Hungarian freedom fighters, hundreds of whom 鈥 unlike Bal谩zs Orb谩n 鈥 were willing to sacrifice their lives for the freedom and independence of their country.鈥
Bal谩zs Orb谩n is the political director of the nationalist prime minister and one of his closest advisers. He has been instrumental in devising much of Hungary's foreign and domestic strategy, and pursued close relationships with certain segments of the U.S. Republican Party that are .
His government has taken an adversarial position toward neighboring Ukraine, and sought to European Union efforts to provide financial and military support to Kyiv and to pass sanctions on Moscow over its .
Such efforts have led to accusations from many European leaders that Hungary is acting to divide the EU and advance Russian interests.
Hungary鈥檚 Cold War-era anti-Soviet uprising looms large in the country鈥檚 consciousness as a symbol of its heroic struggle for independence and self determination. Some Hungarians view their government鈥檚 close ties to Russia today as a betrayal of the 1956 revolution鈥檚 efforts to force Soviet soldiers out of the country.
On Thursday, Magyar called for Bal谩zs Orb谩n鈥檚 resignation by Oct. 23, the 68th anniversary of the revolution.
鈥淪uch a man cannot hold public office alongside the Hungarian Prime Minister,鈥 Magyar wrote.
In a video on Facebook later on Thursday, Orb谩n said that his words had been 鈥渢wisted,鈥 and blamed 鈥減ro-war propaganda鈥 for seeking to involve Hungary in the war in Ukraine.
鈥淭he heroes of 1956 are national heroes. Their memory is sacred and inviolable, and the heroes of 1956 were right and did the right thing,鈥 he said.
Hungary's government has long advocated for an immediate cease-fire and peace talks for the war in Ukraine, but hasn't outlined what that would mean for Ukraine's territorial integrity or the future security of Europe and other NATO allies.
Viktor Orb谩n in July when he made unannounced visits to Russia and China on what he described as a 鈥減eace mission.鈥 His meeting in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin was the first by an EU leader in more than two years.
