Tax authority investigates implementers of Huniverzum exhibition – suspicion of budget fraud and money laundering
The National Tax and Customs Administration has launched an investigation against AAA Events Ltd. and Offline Group Ltd. The companies built and operate the space exploration exhibition at the Millenniárison.
Tax authority investigates companies behind Hungarian space mission exhibition
The National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) has launched an investigation against AAA Events Ltd. and Offline Group Ltd. on suspicion of budget fraud and money laundering, the authority confirmed in its response to a query from 444.
"An investigation is underway regarding the aforementioned business entities on suspicion of the crime of budget fraud and the crime of money laundering. Further information about the matter cannot currently be provided due to the interests of the proceedings," the NAV stated.
The outlet enquired whether proceedings had been initiated following a report raising corruption allegations against AAA Events Ltd. and Offline Group Ltd. Both companies can be partially traced to the same owner.
Offline Group Ltd. played a key role in the construction and operation of the Huniverzum – Hungarians in Space exhibition and visitor centre that opened at the Millenniárison. The facility was opened in May 2025, and billions of public funds have been allocated to it since then.
The exhibition is connected to a broader programme of Hungary's space exploration ambitions. In summer 2021, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced that a Hungarian astronaut could reach the International Space Station by 2025 at the latest. According to a government decree published in the Hungarian Official Gazette, between 2021 and 2024 a total of 99 million dollars – nearly 30 billion forints at the exchange rate of the time – were allocated to the preparation of the research astronaut mission and related industrial development measures.
The Huniverzum is designed to promote this programme: through interactive installations and simulators it presents space travel, including Tibor Kapu's mission. According to a contract obtained through a freedom of information request, its fundamental purpose was to provide visitors with detailed information about the Hungarian research astronaut mission being launched within the framework of the HUNOR Programme.
According to 444, the exhibition is noteworthy not only because of the novelty of the subject – Hungary had not played a significant role in space exploration for decades – but also because its creation and maintenance consumed an extremely significant amount of public funds.
Source: 444