According to the complainants, “persons of unknown authority” interviewed them at the check-in points and banned them from boarding their flights.

Deputy ombudsman for national minorities Erzsébet Szalay Sándor conducted an investigation and established that the airport checks did not meet the requirements of a fair procedure, violated citizens’ right to legal remedy, as well as the dignity of people exercising their right of free movement.

“Preliminary checks at Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc Airport must not be discriminative for any passenger leaving for Canada,” the official said. Procedures must be conducted under a written protocol and in the same manner each time, while passengers should be advised on the purpose of the check in advance, she added.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.