Current Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar stated that Aron Orban — the younger brother of former head of government Viktor Orban — has been detained on suspicion of human trafficking. According to RBC-Ukraine, this became known from Magyar's statement, a publication by Daily News Hungary, and a post by Viktor Orban himself on Facebook. The former prime minister reacted sharply to the news, calling current events a political 'purge' and stating that his brother is being used as a tool to pressure him personally. The statement was made on November 9, 2026, amid ongoing investigative actions in Budapest and Pest County.
What is Known About the Investigative Actions
According to Hungarian authorities, the detention took place following a joint operation by the National Asset Recovery and Protection Agency (NVVH) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NNI). Law enforcement officers conducted investigative actions in Budapest and two settlements in Pest County, operating within two parallel criminal investigations, detaining several people and conducting searches at a number of properties. At the same time, as emphasized in the basis of the material, law enforcement agencies at the time of publication had not confirmed either the fact of Aron Orban's detention or the specific grounds for it, and details about all detainees and their possible role in the investigations were not disclosed.
The Ex-PM's Version: A 'Purge' and a Diversionary Maneuver
Viktor Orban criticized the new government's actions on Facebook, calling them a political 'purge' and a distraction tactic. According to him, the government must answer to the National Security Committee for the 'agent scandal', and when the government 'becomes uncomfortable', the State Security Office (ÁVH) steps in. The former prime minister stated that the goal of this 'dirty game' is the destruction of a political opponent, and his brother is merely a 'pawn' used to get to him.
Context: Visa Investigations and Business Structures
Aron Orban had previously appeared in an investigation into potential abuses regarding the issuance of residence permits to foreigners planning to work in Hungary. According to media reports, business structures associated with him may have helped Vietnamese citizens come to the country: in particular, the company Multi Shoot Zrt. reportedly enrolled Vietnamese applicants in a two-day first aid course at the University of Pecs, which was allegedly part of the Schengen visa application procedure. It was also reported that Aron Orban contacted a government commissioner with a request to expedite the processing of certain visa applications. In September, the NVVH announced it was taking over the investigation: according to the investigation's version, a group of people connected with high-ranking political figures could offer paid assistance in obtaining residence permits for employment, with abuse of influence cited among potential offenses.
Political Background: From 'Agents' to Pressure on Opponents
The situation with Aron Orban fits into a broader political context. Earlier, Viktor Orban found himself at the center of another scandal following an investigation by Hungarian journalist Szabolcs Hospoda regarding his possible cooperation with the secret services of the communist regime in his youth. Former Prime Minister Miklos Nemeth stated that in 1990 he was handed three handwritten reports supposedly written by Orban containing information about his fellow servicemen; however, the authenticity of these documents has not been confirmed. Thus, the human trafficking case has become a new episode of sharp political confrontation between Hungary's new government and the former prime minister, for whom, in his own words, it represents an attempt to destroy a political opponent.
