Orban appears to blame Kyiv for Serbian gas pipeline explosives find

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Sunday appeared to suggest Ukraine was involved in planning an act of sabotage after Serbia reported finding explosives on…

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Sunday appeared to suggest Ukraine was involved in planning an act of sabotage after Serbia reported finding explosives on a gas pipeline used to transport Russian natural gas to the two countries.

Earlier on Sunday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said explosives “of devastating force” were found on the Balkan Stream pipeline near the village of Velebit on the Hungarian border.
The pipeline transports Russian natural gas from Turkey via Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary.

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Vucic and Orban – who are both friendly towards Russia and maintain good bilateral relations – discussed the matter by phone and said investigations were continuing. Orban said Hungary’s defence council would hold an emergency session to discuss the matter.

Orban under pressure

Hungary is expected to hold a parliamentary election on April 12 and polls suggest Orban’s Fidesz party could lose out to the conservative opposition Respect and Freedom Party (Tisza).

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