_1746684965.png)
Russia’s Alrosa finds its largest diamond ever, as Mirny mining operations restart
1 hour ago
The European Commission has referred Hungary to the European Court of Justice over its controversial policy of releasing convicted human smugglers from prison before they complete their sentence, citing violations of EU criminal law obligations.
The referral follows a two-year infringement procedure. Despite repeated warnings from Brussels, including a formal notice in July 2023 and a reasoned opinion in October, Hungarian authorities failed to address the Commission’s concerns.
Brussels argues that a 2023 emergency decree issued by Viktor Orban’s government, reclassifying custodial sentences for human smuggling offences as "reintegration custody" served outside Hungary, undermines the EU’s common legal framework on migrant smuggling. The regulation allowed over 2,200 convicted individuals to walk free between April 2023 and August 2024, on the condition they leave Hungary within 72 hours.
The Hungarian government argued that the decree was motivated by "pragmatic considerations" to ease the chronic overcrowding of prisons due to the high number of human smugglers detained in recent years. According to official figures, foreign nationals convicted of human trafficking-related offences represented a disproportionate burden on the penitentiary system, both logistically and financially.
The Commission contends that Hungary failed to impose "effective, proportionate and dissuasive" criminal sanctions, as required under EU rules. It also criticised the lack of oversight on whether sentences would be enforced in the individuals’ countries of origin or prior residence, calling the legal guarantees insufficient.
The move to release human smugglers has come as a surprise, as Orban has positioned himself as one of the EU’s hardest-line anti-migration leaders and has used it to exploit the negative impacts of illegal migration politically.
Austrian authorities have also voiced concern, summoning Hungary's ambassador in 2023 for an explanation, after several released individuals reportedly resurfaced elsewhere in the Schengen area.
Related Content
News
Russia’s Alrosa finds its largest diamond ever, as Mirny mining operations restart
Russia’s diamond mining monopolist has founds a 468 carat amber-coloured diamond, the largest diamond it has ever found, after it reopened its Mirny diamond mine in Yakutia that has been closed for seven-years.
Kremlin to shut down Moscow’s internet during Victory Day parade, as Ukrainian drone attacks cause civil aviation chaos across the country
Widespread disruption is expected across Russia’s capital during the May 9 Victory Day parade after the Kremlin decided to shut down the city’s internet and SMS services for several hours.
Poll shows narrowing gap between Simion and Dan ahead of Romanian presidential runoff
Result of the May 18 runoff could hinge on turnout and the mobilisation of undecided voters.
India may have lost its most advanced fighter in strikes against Pakistan
While it is unclear exactly how many of the 36 Rafale airframes IAF operates were part of Operation Sindoor or were lost during or after it, unverified images on social media show a mostly intact tail fin segment bearing the markings of the IAF.
