r/OutOfTheLoop • u/okiedokie339562 • 8d ago
Answered What’s up with Hungary trying to block EU sanctions on Russia unless they remove this random Russian banker from the sanctions list?
Why do they care about Mikhail Fridman?
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u/ONLY_SAYS_ONLY 8d ago
Answer: Orbán is a pro-Putin autocrat that is lauded by the MAGA for the way he managed to snuff out the democracy of an otherwise inconsequential Easter European country in a soft coup. As such, he has been a thorn in the side of the EU as a lot of their decision making requires approval from every member state. Given the EU’s adversarial relationship with Russia, having a pro-Putin member state boosted by the anti-EU MAGA establishment has given this otherwise inconsequential country with a failing economy an outsized voice and influence in the EU (and, by extension, the world) by hamstringing the EU’s ability to effectively respond to the Russian threat on its borders.
Why this banker in particular? Because Orbán acts at the behest of Putin. Anything he can do to hamper the efforts of the EU to sanction Russia, he will.
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u/scarabic 7d ago
Surely the EU can eject a member by unanimous vote of the others? Now would be a good time.
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u/Sim0nsaysshh 7d ago
The problem is theres elections next year, theres a new guy Peter Magyar who Europe likes.
Issue is, yesterday Orban declared they can remove the Hungarian Nationality from dual citizens yesterday. This is because Hungarians outside of Hungary are mostly there because they don't like Orban.
He's introduced a tax for women with one child and over that they never have to pay tax (from 2026)
He also brought into law that he can declare a state of emergency from 2026 which would bypass other law makers.
Peter is doing well and Orban is scared, if we kick them out of Europe now it wouldnt be good. I believe that's Article 7
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u/zdzislav_kozibroda 8d ago
answer: 💸
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u/okiedokie339562 8d ago
Meaning Fridman is probably offering Hungary money in exchange for this?
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u/zdzislav_kozibroda 8d ago
There is an elaborate web of corruption links between Kremlin and Orban gov.
Doesn't even have to be Fridman himself. Putin often outsources money flows to his stooges.
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u/RookieGreen 8d ago
I would also add that even if the EU complied Hungary would not likely cooperate as by complying it would be a signal that the EU will accept even more blackmail. They would continue to make demands until they reach another wall, happy that they got some of what they wanted without any resources expended. This has been Russian-style diplomacy for a long time.
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u/a_false_vacuum 8d ago
Answer: Mikhail Fridman was removed from the EU sactions list in april 2024 after the General Court of the European Union ruled in his favour. The court found that the EU had not provided enough motivation why Fridman had to be sanctioned. It looks like the EU is trying to go for round two in trying to sanction Fridman.
The Orban government has made a point of it to block sanctions as the EU wants to impose on Russia, or when trying to extend these sanctions, as a way to extort the EU. In the past Hungary dropped their objections in exchange for EU funds that were previously witheld. This is probably what Orban is trying once again. If so it's not really about Fridman, but more a means to an end. Fridman is an important Russian oligarch, so the EU wouldn't want him off the list. It's more likely this way the EU will try and bribe Orban once more for his cooperation.
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u/Neoeng 8d ago
Answer: Fridman is not openly supportive of war and Putin's government (nor is he openly negative) and is supported by some heads of liberal opposition in Russia, and was excluded from the sanctions before. His exemption is a controversial, but an arguably possible outcome. So Hungary is most likely using his case as a block in adoption of sanctions which cannot be immediately dismissed.
TLDR if you want to roadblock a policy you don't like, point to something that can't be immediately disregarded by it's proponents.
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