Vienna, 12 April 2018
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is very concerned about recent developments in Hungary.
According to information from Hungary, the independent conservative newspaper Magyar Nemzet, its online version https://mno.hu/ and Lánchíd Rádió Kft. have shut down.
The daily Magyar Nemzet was 80 years on the market. Lánchíd Rádió Kft. was the last independent private national radio station .
At the same time a pro-government magazine published a list of names of hundreds of prime minister Viktor Orban critics, including journalists, academics, including academics who teach at the Central European University (CEU) and civil rights activists, who are according to this magazine paid by US-Hungarian billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros and a part of Soros’ Hungarian network. The list included staff of investigative platform Direkt36, which reported on corruption cases involving individuals close to the leading party.
“This is a new step against democracy. Diversity and pluralism are important for democracy”, said Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General.
SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe.