A Hungarian court on Wednesday concluded the sentencing phase of a case stemming from violent clashes during a 2023 gathering of far-right groups in budapest, resulting in prison terms for three individuals. The convictions, part of a case dubbed “Budapest complex,” underscore growing tensions surrounding extremist ideologies adn activism in Hungary, and have ignited international debate over extradition and political motivations [[1]]. German activist Maja T. received the longest sentence-eight years-after being extradited from Germany following a legal challenge to the process, which the German Constitutional Court ultimately found unlawful [[1]].
A Hungarian court on Wednesday sentenced three individuals to prison terms ranging from two to eight years in connection with violent clashes that erupted during a 2023 gathering of far-right extremists in Budapest. The case, dubbed the “Budapest complex” by local media, highlights the escalating tensions between extremist groups and counter-protesters in Hungary, and comes amid a broader political debate over the definition of terrorism and the government’s stance on anti-fascist movements.
Maja T. received the longest sentence, eight years, for aggravated assault with the potential to cause life-threatening injuries. Gabriele Marchesi was sentenced to seven years for the same charge, while Anna M. received a two-year suspended sentence for complicity. The convictions stem from a series of attacks targeting participants in the “Day of Honour” event, an annual commemoration of soldiers who fought for Nazi Germany during the final months of World War II.
The sentencing took place in a tense atmosphere, with supporters and opponents of the convicted individuals gathering outside the courthouse. A conference was held near the court, featuring the father of Maja T. and representatives from German and Hungarian leftist groups alongside approximately twenty individuals dressed in black, wearing face coverings and displaying the flag of the Third Reich. Counter-protesters from the Légió Hungária group displayed an antifascist banner with the message, “Dirty Antifa attacking from behind. Get out of our country.” Police documented those entering the courthouse, including journalists.
Attila Vajnai, president of the Hungarian Workers’ Party, suggested the trial was politically motivated, stating, “The process serves the election campaign of Orbán. He will use the verdict to present himself as an anti-communist leader fighting antifascist terrorism.” He added that, following a similar move by the Trump administration, the Hungarian government has also designated antifascist groups as terrorist organizations.
Only Maja T. was present in court for the sentencing, having been extradited from Dresden, Germany, on June 27, 2024, in a controversial operation later deemed unlawful by the German Constitutional Court. Gabriele Marchesi was not present, as an Italian appeals court previously refused his extradition due to concerns about potential human rights violations in Hungarian prisons. Anna M., who remains in Germany, received a lighter sentence.
During the trial, the defense attorneys challenged the legitimacy of the proceedings, arguing that the case against Marchesi was based on circumstantial evidence and that the prosecution failed to definitively identify the aggressors depicted in video footage. They also pointed to a lack of forensic evidence and incomplete records of some incidents, asserting that the injuries sustained were minor.
Before the sentencing, Maja T. addressed the court, describing 18 months of isolation as “white torture” and speaking of her hunger strike as an act of protest. She concluded her statement in Italian, a language she has been studying in prison, saying, “I love you, a promise remains, we will be in touch again.”
The judge delivered the verdict and detailed the reasoning behind the sentences over a two-and-a-half-hour period. The prosecutor argued that the sentences were too lenient, having sought maximum penalties of up to 24 years imprisonment, and announced plans to appeal. The defense teams also indicated they would appeal, seeking acquittal.
Maja T. will remain in Hungarian custody under strict conditions. Approximately thirty antifascist activists demonstrated in Budapest on Wednesday, defying threats from neo-Nazis and the risk of identification by authorities, declaring their solidarity with those fighting against fascism. Meanwhile, Zoltán Kovács, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Orbán, celebrated the verdict, calling Maja T. “an accomplice of Ilaria Salis, the terrorist antifascist.”
