Suspicion against István Szakács: Budapest Metropolitan Public Prosecutor's Office releases procedural details
The police made an independent decision to question the megaphone influencer; prior approval from the prosecutor's office was not required. An appeal against the suspicion was received by the public prosecutor's office on Thursday.
Budapest Metropolitan Public Prosecutor's Office statement on the megaphone influencer case
The Budapest Metropolitan Public Prosecutor's Office issued a public statement on Thursday detailing the circumstances of the questioning of István Szakács, a megaphone influencer – according to Index. The prosecutor's office emphasised that the police made an independent decision to carry out the questioning of the suspect, prosecutorial approval was not required for this, and no such approval was sought in this case.
The Rapid Response Police National Investigation Office notified the Budapest Metropolitan Public Prosecutor's Office in writing on 3 July 2026 that it had ordered an investigation that day for the crime of threatening to commit a terrorist act. According to the prosecutor's office, notification of the ordering of the investigation is mandatory in all cases under the Criminal Procedure Code.
The telephone consultation and prosecutorial warning
On 7 July 2026, the investigating authority contacted the Budapest Metropolitan Public Prosecutor's Office by telephone and stated as fact that a search was being conducted at the influencer's premises, that he was being brought in, and that he was being questioned as a suspect. The competent prosecutor verbally drew the investigating authority's attention to the fact that "thorough investigation is required to determine whether the given act actually fulfils the relevant statutory elements of the Criminal Code".
Under the Criminal Procedure Code, during the investigation phase prior to the suspect's questioning – the so-called investigation phase – the investigating authority acts independently and independently decides the question of whether there is a well-founded suspicion.
Receipt of the appeal
The next day, on 8 July, following reports in the press, the Budapest Metropolitan Public Prosecutor's Office requested information from the police. The authority confirmed by telephone that it had conducted a search at the influencer's premises, the influencer made a statement as a suspect, filed an appeal against the suspicion, and was not taken into custody. The appeal and case materials arrived at the prosecutor's office from the police on Thursday morning. According to the public prosecutor's office, it will be in a position to assess the lawfulness of the suspicion when ruling on the appeal, and will inform the public of the outcome.
The influencer's account of the search
István Szakács gave a statement to Index about the circumstances of the detention. According to his account, four police officers from the National Investigation Office burst into his home in the early morning, and a further three from the Rapid Response Police; he was handcuffed and then informed of the matter in question. The police cited a video message posted on Facebook, in which, according to the authorities' claim, the influencer urged that if former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán were imprisoned, he should be freed.
Szakács denied this interpretation and claimed he only wished to stand by the former prime minister through legal means, "but they said I mispronounced a word, and that is the reason for all of this". During the search – in his own words – "they looked everywhere, they were searching for equipment suitable for a terrorist act", then they took him to the police station, questioned him, detained him and released him.
The influencer confirmed that he is being investigated on suspicion of threatening to commit a terrorist act. According to his account, the police told him that in cases of this kind, imprisonment is the consequence in nine out of ten cases, citing children who threatened bomb attacks as examples.
Interior Ministry position
The Interior Ministry previously stated that every substantive step in the proceedings against István Szakács was carried out in consultation with the prosecutor's office, and the authorities acted lawfully. Former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán publicly assured the influencer of his support on Wednesday, and the influencer also received legal assistance.
Source: Index