Italy summoned the Hungarian ambassador on Monday to protest the treatment of an Italian woman detained in Budapest and accused of attacking a group of neo-Nazis, a diplomatic source told AFP.
Ilaria Salis, 39, was arrested in Budapest last February and charged with three counts of attempted assault, accused of being part of a far-left organization.
She appeared in court Monday alongside her alleged accomplices, with prosecutors seeking a prison sentence of up to 11 years, according to a court statement in which she was not identified by name.
Ilaria Salis has pleaded not guilty and her family has complained about her treatment in prison.
Next hearing next May
“We call on the Hungarian government to investigate and intervene to ensure that the rights under European Union law of Italian citizen Ilaria Salis, detained and awaiting trial, are respected,” said the Minister of Justice. Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani on X, the old Twitter.
Chiediamo al governo ungherese di vigilare e di interventione affinché vengano rispettati i diritti, previsti slab normative comunitarie, della cittadina Italiana Ilaria Salis detenuta en attesa di giudizio.
— Antonio Tajani (@Antonio_Tajani) January 29, 2024
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, head of the post-fascist Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy) party, has in the past enjoyed warm relations with Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
However, Giorgia Meloni strongly supports Ukraine defending itself against the Russian invasion, while Viktor Orban has maintained close ties with the Kremlin and vetoed a 50 billion EU aid package for Kiev in December. euros over four years.
Ilaria Salis' next hearing is scheduled for May 24.