A request has been made to the European Parliament for the suspension of Kovács’ immunity from prosecution, Prosecutor General Peter Polt’s office said. Should the parliament agree to lift immunity, he would face criminal charges in Hungary. Kovács has not made any comments on the issue, yet.
If accusations are proved, Kovács would have committed “a serious crime punishable by two to eight years imprisonment” the prosecutor’s office said. “The long and deep national-security procedure substantiates that the claims are not just something made out of thin air,” Zsolt Molnár, the Socialist party’s head of the parliamentary national security committee told The Wall Street Journal.
Bernadett Szél of green party LMP, who is also the member of the committee, added, “His immunity should be lifted. The lawyers will decide, but a basis for the investigation is solid.” Should the request be approved by early July, court procedures could start in October, according to Szél.
Kovács enjoys the support of his party, Jobbik. Party Head Gábor Vona defended Kovács, and proposed the idea of sending him back to the European Parliament when the case is over. Far-right parties across Europe have backed Russia during its dispute with Ukriane. The European Parliament will consider Hungary’s request and a vote will take place if Kovács retains his seat after next week’s European elections.
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