There was great excitement in Austria when it became known that the Hungarian government wanted to release hundreds of convicted foreign smugglers. This decree by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is mainly intended to relieve the overcrowded Hungarian prisons a bit. In May there were just over 800 people. But according to official information, in the past four months, 1,468 prisoners convicted of human trafficking have been transferred to the so-called reintegration prison – almost twice as many as originally announced!
As is well known, the right-wing government in Budapest decided at the end of April to release some of the 2,600 people arrested in Hungary for human trafficking. The corresponding government decree requests the released persons to leave Hungarian territory “within 72 hours” after their release from prison to serve the rest of their sentence in their home country. But there are no control mechanisms, so the waiver of liability amounts to an amnesty. In this regard, the Hungarian media spoke of six released prisoners who did not meet the conditions and were re-arrested on Hungarian territory.
The Hungarian Deputy Interior Minister: reaction to the lack of EU aid
Observers see the release as Hungarian retaliation against Brussels over the ongoing dispute over European migration policy. Hungary’s Deputy Interior Minister Bence Rétvári said his country “had to make the decision” because the EU does not share in the costs of arresting traffickers or building new prisons. Brussels responded to the measure by launching an infringement procedure.
Austria “in constant exchange with Hungary”
For its part, the government in Vienna has taken countermeasures and as a first response – in addition to diplomatic efforts – has tightened border controls. Regarding the latest figures on layoffs, the Ministry of the Interior emphasizes: “Austria is in constant contact with the Hungarian authorities on the specific cases in this matter.” The released smugglers have already served a large part of their sentences. The spokesperson further explained that these were mainly smugglers from Romania, Serbia and Hungary. “However, the criminal investigation units in Austria were already informed of this in May. Austria’s critical attitude towards this Hungarian measure has already been expressed several times.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
