The mayor of the Hungarian capital, Gergely Karácsony, was officially questioned as a suspect for organizing a banned LGBTK parade, which provoked a sharp reaction from the nationalist government.
The demonstration, held on June 28, took place despite explicit warnings of potential legal consequences from Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Despite threats of sanctions, the event attracted a record number of participants - around 200,000 people.
Karácsony, wearing a t-shirt with rainbow colors and the city's coat of arms, firmly told his supporters: "Neither freedom nor love can be banned in Budapest". He was questioned for more than an hour in the National Investigation Bureau building.
If charged and convicted, the mayor risks spending up to one year in prison for organizing and encouraging participation in a banned gathering. Karácsony himself described the charges as unfounded and stated that he would file an appeal against them.
Orban's government passed a law in March that restricts public gatherings related to promoting homosexuality among minors. This is another step in the executive power's policy against the LGBTK community in the country.
Two years ago, Hungary removed legal recognition of transgender people, and in 2021, a law was passed banning the representation of homosexuality to persons under 18 years of age.
Despite these restrictions, Karácsony remained resolute and announced that the municipal administration would organize the parade as a local event. He emphasized that the police cannot legally ban such a municipal event.
Last month, the authorities announced that they would not take action against participants who could receive fines up to 500 euros. Nevertheless, the National Investigation Bureau began an investigation against an "unknown perpetrator" accused of organizing the event.
The parade turned into a large-scale anti-government protest that demonstrated the power of civil resistance against attempts to limit basic rights and freedoms.
Karácsony, accompanied by a lawyer, did not answer questions during the interrogation but presented his own statement. In front of a crowd of about 200 supporters and journalists, he repeated: "If something cannot be banned, it cannot be punished".
The case is gaining increasing international attention and is becoming a symbol of resistance against discriminatory policies in Central Europe.