Here’s what Mr. Hague said in his speech (from the transcript):

“And fifth, Russia’s behaviour has laid bare the danger of the creation of concentrations of economic, political and media power that subvert democratic institutions, particularly in South-Eastern Europe. We will increase our focus on supporting those institutions in European countries vulnerable to the pressure of creeping oligarchisation.”

Here’s how the FT reported it:

“Broadening his concern to countries in central and southeastern Europe, such as Hungary and Bulgaria, whose institutions have become dominated by Russian investors, Mr. Hague warned that this makes them reliant on state support from Moscow.”

We contacted Secretary Hague’s office. Did the secretary say that? No, according to one of his senior advisers, he has never mentioned Hungary in that context. In our view then, the FT version was grossly inaccurate, clearly attributing to Secretary Hague something he simply did not say.

We requested a correction but were initially refused. After a fair amount of back and forth with the FT, here’s what we finally got:

Explaining his concern about countries in southeastern Europe, whose institutions have become dominated by Russian investors, Mr Hague warned that this makes them reliant on state support from Moscow. British officials to whom the FT spoke afterwards said Mr Hague’s concerns extended to the Balkans, Bulgaria and Hungary. But the Hungarian Embassy disputes this. It says it has been reassured by the Foreign Office that Mr Hague was not referring to Hungary.

By Ferenc Kumin

Source: A Blog About Hungary

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Xpat Opinion: No, Secretary Hague Was Not Talking About Hungary