January 30, 2025 - Hungary, Fót

On January 30, 2025, police detained Telex journalists Noémi Gombos and Dániel Simor for attempting to question PM Viktor Orbán. The journalists were waiting in a parking lot to ask about healthcare when Counter Terrorism Centre agents ordered them to move. When they refused, citing their right to report, their press accreditation was revoked, and they were arrested.

They were held for 3 hours and now face misdemeanor charges for “resisting police orders,” punishable by a $500 fine. This is a blatant attempt to silence independent journalism.

Since returning to power in 2010, Orbán has systematically dismantled press freedom. His 2022 re-election accelerated repression, including a Russian-style law targeting foreign-funded media.

Women Press Freedom strongly condemns this crackdown. Journalists should not face police intimidation simply for doing their job. We demand Hungarian authorities drop the charges against Gombos & Simor and ensure journalists can work without fear. The EU must take action against Hungary’s escalating media suppression.