For Immediate Release October 30, 2019 BREAKING: HUNGARIAN TAX AUTHORITY RAIDS MOMENTUM OFFICES BUDAPEST — This morning, agents of the Criminal Branch of the Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) raided the offices of the opposition party Momentum Movement. Authorities also searched the offices of Momentum’s bookkeeping and auditing company, seizing several documents. NAV officials informed Momentum staff that their warrant authorised search and seizure on the party’s premises, with "the purpose of seeking and securing material, documentary evidence and evidence of criminal activity in a pending criminal case for suspected fiscal fraud." The search was authorised to investigate Momentum’s finances during the 2018 national electoral campaign, ostensibly related to an earlier suspension of state aid and investigation by the State Audit Office. In regards to the earlier investigation, the Audit Office stated in February 2019 that “the party has put in place the framework for financial operations in compliance with legal standards,” and unfroze the party’s state funding. While NAV and the State Audit Office are supposed to be independent public institutions, they are managed by Fidesz loyalists and answer to the government. These institutions have been used to harass and intimidate opposition parties before, like in the case of Jobbik in 2018. “Momentum is the strongest opposition party in Hungary based on recent polling and election results, and Fidesz has now decided to use institutions under its control as a political weapon against us. We have nothing to hide, so we will cooperate with the authorities as prescribed by Hungarian law, but we will also take all necessary steps to resist abuses of power,” said Daniel Berg, Momentum’s Executive Board Member. CONTACT Daniel Berg Executive Board Member +36 30 310 0359 [email protected] .