Economy
U.S. plans no sanctions against Hungary's Mészáros - Ambassador
The two news portals reported that the U.S. administration has readied sanctions against close associates of Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, on the basis of the Global Magnitsky Act. One of the “targets" is Lőrinc Mészáros, a former gas-fitter in Orbán’s 1,700-resident hometown Felcsút who is now the country’s second-wealthiest person (or the first, depending on which ranking you take).
Adopting the Global Magnitsky Act, the sanctions can take the form of asset freezes for funds held in the U.S., bans on visas for travelling to the United States.
The reports weighed down on the share price of companies linked to Mészáros. OPUS closed 2.44% lower yesterday, while 4iG shed 1.18%, and Appenin dropped 4.89% on the Budapest Stock Exchange (BSE).
Ambassador David Cornstein told ATV he has not heard about such sanctions until the release of the reports, and labelled the publications as “fake news".
"The United States does not threaten people with sanctions. It either imposes sanctions or it doesn’t, but it does not threaten with them," he said, adding he has no knowledge of Washington planning such action.
Adopting the Global Magnitsky Act, the sanctions can take the form of asset freezes for funds held in the U.S., bans on visas for travelling to the United States.
The reports weighed down on the share price of companies linked to Mészáros. OPUS closed 2.44% lower yesterday, while 4iG shed 1.18%, and Appenin dropped 4.89% on the Budapest Stock Exchange (BSE).
Ambassador David Cornstein told ATV he has not heard about such sanctions until the release of the reports, and labelled the publications as “fake news".
"The United States does not threaten people with sanctions. It either imposes sanctions or it doesn’t, but it does not threaten with them," he said, adding he has no knowledge of Washington planning such action.
