The chief adviser to the Hungarian Prime Minister on the affairs of Hungarians abroad, Katalin Szili, has sent an open letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, calling on Brussels to intervene over a recent legislative change in Slovakia related to the Beneš Decrees.
According to Hungarian media, Budapest objects to an amendment to Slovakia’s Criminal Code under which public criticism of the Beneš Decrees could be treated as a criminal offence. According to Szili, the law contradicts European principles, specifically freedom of expression as guaranteed by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. She also referred to rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, which have stated that states should not enforce a single “historical truth” through criminal law.
Slovak Government Office said it respects the adviser’s decision to turn to the European Commission, noting that there are established mechanisms within the EU to assess whether national legislation complies with European law.
Source: TASR
