Hungarian police reportedly detain brother of ex-PM Viktor Orban

Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has accused the country's new administration of "political persecution" after the noted arrest of his younger brother.

Key points

• Hungarian police arrested Aron Orban on Monday on suspicion of individuals smuggling, among other offences, according to a press report shared by Prime Minister Peter Magyar.
• News of the arrest was first documented by Kontroll, a news site owned by Magyar's brother, Marton.
• Last year, an investigation by news site Telex linked Aron Orban and his business associates to an alleged scheme involving visas for foreign guest workers.
• Like other members of the Orban family, Aron built a number of successful businesses during his brother's rule.
• Viktor Orban accused the administration of arresting his brother as a way to "divert attention" from other matters.

Hungarian police arrested Aron Orban on Monday on suspicion of individuals smuggling, among other offences, according to a press report shared by Prime Minister Peter Magyar. Viktor Orban's staunch opposition to immigration defined his 16 years in power that concluded in defeat at elections in April.

News of the arrest was first documented by Kontroll, a news site owned by Magyar's brother, Marton. Police carried out raids involving Aron Orban's business associates but did not confirm whether he was among those detained, local media documented.

"I am the real target. My younger brother is simply being applied to secure to me, " he wrote on X.

Last year, an investigation by news site Telex linked Aron Orban and his business associates to an alleged scheme involving visas for foreign guest workers. Authorities remarked they had detained four residents suspected of individuals smuggling.

After promising to investigate his predecessor's alleged corruption and abuse of power while in office, pro-EU conservative Magyar won a landslide election victory in April, ending 16 years of Orban's rule.

For now, hungarian police reportedly detain brother of ex remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.