Human Rights First and Transparency International U.S. Condemn U.S. Corruption Sanctions Relief for Hungarian Official

Press contacts: Human Rights First: [email protected]

Transparency International U.S.: [email protected]

Washington, D.C. — Today, Human Rights First and Transparency International U.S. condemned the Trump administration’s decision to grant unprecedented sanctions relief to Antal Rogán, a senior Hungarian official and close aide to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

In January, Rogán was sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky sanctions program for allegedly orchestrating corruption schemes that enriched himself and loyalists by manipulating public contracts and resources. The sanctions had effectively locked Rogán out of the U.S. financial system by blocking transactions with U.S. persons, freezing any assets within U.S. jurisdiction, and barring him from entering the United States. Following a public lobbying campaign by the Hungarian government, the U.S. government today removed Rogán from its sanctions list, stating without any explanation that the sanctions were “inconsistent with U.S. foreign policy interests.” This marks the first time an individual sanctioned under this key U.S. accountability tool has been granted almost immediate relief without demonstrating any behavior change or facing some form of accountability.

“This unjustified decision raises grave concerns that the Trump administration is actively undermining one of the U.S. government’s most important tools for holding foreign corrupt actors and human rights abusers accountable,” said Adam Keith, Senior Director of Accountability at Human Rights First. “The U.S. government is turning its back on those in civil society who for years have taken great risks to document appalling levels of corruption in Orbán’s Hungary. Today’s action sets a damaging precedent that will entice every other sanctioned oligarch, kleptocrat, money launderer, and criminal to line up for their turn at relief next. ”

“Lifting the sanctions imposed on Antal Rogán rewards cronyism and marks a stunning setback in the U.S.’s commitment to fighting global corruption,” said Scott Greytak, Director of Advocacy for Transparency International U.S., part of the world’s oldest and largest anticorruption organization. “It weakens U.S. credibility and encourages the wealth-draining dictates of authoritarian regimes. The decision undermines U.S. financial and moral leadership at a time when the world needs us most.”