SorosLeaks: Embassies are also deployed against Hungary

The Soros network has built up excellent relations with various embassies in Hungary. According to documents obtained by Hungarian daily Magyar Nemzet, left-liberal NGOs in Hungary are working with diplomats to influence domestic political processes in Hungary and neighboring countries. The leaked Skype conversations prove that several embassies were involved, including the Dutch, French, Belgian, Flemish, Luxembourgian, Spanish, British, and even American and Australian embassies.

Andrej Nosko, the former director of George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF), said in one of the recordings that if a human rights organization disagrees with a particular piece of legislation — or if it wants to change the government — the obvious solution is to put pressure on the country's leadership from abroad, through embassies. However, they should not expect financial support from embassies in the first place but primarily assistance in organizing various events that give more weight to NGOs.

Nosko also pointed out that since "the embassy is your entrance point to change the voting in the Council of the EU,” NGOs should visit the European Commission (EC) and talk to officials there, as they monitor the actions of member states.

He said he himself met regularly with EC officials, many of whom were his former colleagues.

“During my time as director, I have dealt with many ambassadors, so I even know how to deal with top diplomats," he said, adding that he also has excellent relations at lower levels with embassies of different states, including the U.S.

In a Skype interview with Orsolya Jeney, former director of Amnesty International Hungary, the cooperation between embassies and rights defenders was also discussed.

“The first time embassies organized a group that went on the Pride march, it was my idea and our organization,” Jeney said. She added that, in another initiative, they asked embassies to “specifically stand up for the rights of transgenders for international day.” These are small gestures, Jeney said, but important for diplomacy.

Kristóf Zoltán Varga, who previously worked as the Budapest director of the Open Society Foundations, the Soros Foundation, said that embassies are important to NGOs as vocal supporters of various initiatives.

“They can provide a kind of protection. They are much nicer to you if you come out of the German, French or Dutch embassy and you have friends there. So they make our work significantly more comfortable," Varga said.

Photo credit: Shutterstock