The US imposed sanctions against Hungarian politician Antal Rogán, who ran Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s cabinet since 2015, for alleged corruption, according to Euractiv.
Rogán ran Orbán’s cabinet since 2015 and was in charge of organising the election campaign. Currently, he oversees Hungary’s secret services.
The US Treasury Department placed Rogán under the Global Magnitsky sanctions programme for allegedly using his position to enrich himself and his political allies. US Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman stated:
Those closely connected to the ruling political party have acquired massive empires of holdings. Antal Rogán is a primary architect, implementer, and beneficiary of this system of corruption.
Orbán’s Rogán-led cabinet called the sanctions “the latest, petty revenge of the outgoing, unsuccessful American ambassador.” Authorities also said they would challenge the move when US President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
After 20 January the United States of America will have a new government and a new president. After their inauguration we will take the necessary legal steps.
In 2023, the US imposed Magnitsky-type sanctions on five Bulgarian officials, including Delyan Peevski, over alleged corruption.
