Szijjártó Sought Putin Meeting to Boost Pellegrini’s Election Prospects

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó arranged a meeting between Peter Pellegrini and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in 2020, according to transcripts of Szijjártó’s phone calls. At Pellegrini’s request, Szijjártó told Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that it was “crucially important” for Hungary that the then‑ruling coalition in Slovakia remain in power, and that receiving Pellegrini in Moscow would “greatly help him win the election.” Putin received then‑PM Pellegrini three days before the vote, after which Igor Matovič formed a government.

(dennikN.sk)