Hungary: Thousands gather at rally in Budapest July 24

Event

Thousands of people gathered near the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's office at Buda Castle in central Budapest on Friday, July 24, in protest of perceived government intervention on media freedom. The rally followed the recent firing of Szabolcs Dull, the chief editor of Index, one of the country's major independent news outlets known for its critical reporting of the Orban government. In response, most of the journalists at the company have since resigned after the company's owner refused to reinstate Dull. Despite the size of the event, there were only a few reports of arrests and minor scuffles with police.  

Advice

Individuals in Budapest are advised to monitor the situation, anticipate transportation disruptions, avoid any protest or demonstration as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.