Full Breakdown
Hungarian Ex-Foreign Minister Calls Lavrov Amid Wagner Mutiny
6/24/2026, 9:56:41 PM
Call During Wagner Mutiny
On the afternoon of 24 June 2023, former Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó phoned Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. The call, recorded by the investigative consortium “Kremlin Hotline” (VSquare, Frontstory, The Insider, Delfi, Ján Kuciak Investigative Centre), consisted of Szijjártó asking whether the situation in Russia was “under control” and whether Lavrov needed any personal assistance. Lavrov’s replies emphasized that the army was handling the crisis and that the president had already addressed the matter.
Background: Wagner’s March on Moscow
On 23 June 2023, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner private-military company, launched a short-lived march toward Moscow, seizing the Southern Military District headquarters in Rostov and advancing to Voronezh. Prigozhin claimed the Russian army had struck a Wagner camp; the Kremlin denied any such attack and opened a criminal case for armed rebellion. President Vladimir Putin labeled the operation a betrayal and warned of civil-war risk. By the evening of 24 June, Prigozhin announced a withdrawal, stating he did not want to shed Russian blood. A deal, mediated by Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko, allowed Prigozhin to depart for Belarus and granted amnesty to his fighters. Two months later, on 23 August 2023, Prigozhin’s plane was destroyed, killing him and nine others.
Relationship Between Szijjártó and Lavrov
Szijjártó’s phone call follows a series of leaked recordings that portray a notably cordial, yet asymmetrical, rapport with Lavrov. Earlier disclosures showed Szijjártó assisting Lavrov in removing Russian individuals, banks and companies from EU sanctions lists and in obtaining EU documents. Analysts have linked the pair to cooperation on Russia’s “shadow fleet,” promotion of Russian energy interests, and assistance to Russian oligarchs. Hungarian foreign minister Anita Orbán later claimed that documents were shredded by Szijjártó’s team before handover.
Official Statements & Responses
Lavrov repeatedly assured Szijjártó that “everything is under control,” that “the army knows perfectly well what to do,” and that “the president has said everything that was needed.” He also dismissed circulating rumors that President Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin had left Moscow. Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov corroborated this, stating that Putin was “at work in the Kremlin” and Mishustin was “conducting government meetings” in his office.
Criticism & Opposition
Observers have highlighted the potential conflict of interest inherent in Szijjártó’s willingness to offer personal assistance to Lavrov. Critics point to the alleged facilitation of sanctions relief and document procurement as evidence of Hungary’s outsized influence on Russian diplomatic affairs. The asymmetry of the relationship—wherein Szijjártó appears to adopt a subordinate role—has been described as “unusual” for a European foreign minister.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Social-media rumors, supported by flight-tracking data, suggested that a presidential Il-96 aircraft had departed Moscow for St. Petersburg and then vanished, fueling speculation that senior Russian leaders were fleeing the capital. Lavrov dismissed these claims, and Peskov’s statement directly contradicted them. Additionally, while Prigozhin asserted an attack on a Wagner camp, the Kremlin denied any such incident, leaving the factual basis of the claim unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “According to Szabolcs Panyi’s account, the conversation between the two foreign ministers went as follows: Szíjjártó : Hello, I just wanted to know if things are under control and that you are OK?” — Péter Szijjártó, former Hungarian Foreign Minister
- “Lavrov : Absolutely under control, President has said everything that was needed.” — Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister
- “If you ever need anything personally, just let me know.” — Péter Szijjártó
- “The army knows perfectly well what to do.” — Sergei Lavrov
- “The mercenaries heading toward Moscow stopped, and Prigozhin announced that he was turning his men back because he did not want to shed Russian blood.” — Yevgeny Prigozhin
What’s Next
The “Kremlin Hotline” consortium plans to seek comment from Szijjártó and to continue publishing recordings that may further illuminate Hungary’s diplomatic interactions with Russia. Ongoing scrutiny by European authorities is expected regarding the alleged facilitation of sanctions relief and document procurement.
