Hungarian foreign ministry files criminal complaint over 2020 respirator purchases

The Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has filed a criminal complaint with prosecutors alleging fraud, manipulation and other offences related to the purchase of respirators in 2020, the ministry’s head, Anita Orbán, told reporters.

The procurement in question involved nearly 17,000 respirators with a total reported value of 300 billion forints, or 826 million euros. The ministry says thousands of devices were bought at inflated prices and that many could not be used in practice.

Allegations and next steps

According to the complaint, the purchases were made during the coronavirus pandemic and are suspected of involving deceptive practices and other criminal conduct. The filing asks prosecutors to investigate the procurement process and any individuals or companies involved.

Orbán said the ministry's review found that thousands of devices were unnecessary and purchased under terms that raised serious doubts about their suitability and price. She presented the complaint as a step to establish criminal responsibility and to recover public funds if wrongdoing is confirmed.

Prosecutors will now determine whether to open a formal investigation; the ministry has not provided a timeline for that process. The case returns attention to emergency purchases made during the pandemic and to questions about oversight when public funds are rapidly deployed.

Photo: press material from the event