Former Hungarian Minister for Culture and Innovation Balázs Hankó has been arrested after prosecutors requested that his parliamentary immunity be lifted, according to reports cited by 021.rs and N1.
Hankó, who served in Viktor Orbán’s government, is being investigated over alleged misuse of entrusted funds. Prosecutors reportedly estimate that the alleged offense caused approximately €47 million in damage to Hungary’s state budget.
Hankó was awarded the Order of the Serbian Flag, First Class, by then-Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in February 2026. His political ties with Serbia have also included cooperation with Balint Pastor, a prominent Hungarian minority politician in Serbia.
The arrest has drawn political attention in Serbia. Robert Šebek, an MP from Serbia’s opposition Freedom and Justice Party (SSP) in the Vojvodina Assembly, called for Hungarian prosecutors to examine whether any of Hankó’s alleged financial activities extended beyond Hungary, including possible links to business dealings involving Serbian partners.
Šebek also called for future Serbian authorities and prosecutors to cooperate with Hungarian investigators through international legal assistance and examine financial flows between the two countries.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar also commented on the arrest, describing it as a turning point and saying that Hungarians were experiencing what he described as a change in political conditions and equality before the law.
The allegations against Hankó remain subject to the Hungarian judicial process, and the reported €47 million figure refers to the damage alleged by prosecutors.
