Former Hungarian TEK chief Hajdu János investigated in gold‑convoy case

Hajdu János, the former head of Hungary’s Terrorism Prevention Centre (TEK), has been interrogated as a suspect in the “gold convoy” operation that seized Ukrainian‑linked money‑carrying vehicles on 5 March 2026. Prosecutors allege he ordered the stoppage of trucks transporting cash and gold and directed the use of handcuffs and blindfolds on seven Ukrainian nationals, an act described as illegal detention and mistreatment.

On 8 June 2026, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán appointed Hajdu as the Fidesz party’s security director, posting on Facebook, “Aki minket meg akar félemlíteni, keljen fel hamarabb. Üdv újra a fedélzeten, tábornok úr!” The prosecution is now also reviewing Hajdu’s mobile‑phone records after testimonies suggested he spoke by phone with Orbán during the detainees’ confinement.

Ukrainian lawyers have demanded that Orbán, former security minister Farkas Örs and former NAV official Demeter Tamás be questioned or detained in connection with the case, but prosecutors say the legal criteria for detention are not met and Hajdu remains free pending trial. The investigation has triggered political controversy and internal tensions within Hungary’s prosecutorial office.