“Day of Honor” and “Lukov March” 2023: German police hinder Antifa protests in Bulgaria and pursue attacks on Nazis in Hungary

dossier

"On February 24, 2023, Florian Gutsche, federal chairman of the VVN-BdA, was intercepted at Berlin airport by federal police officers as part of an obviously prepared operation. Gutsche was on his way to Bulgaria, where he wanted to take part as an observer in international protests against the fascist "Lukov March" in Sofia. He was held and questioned for two hours, his luggage was searched and released with a six-page “exit ban”. This included the threat that he would be “taken into custody” and prosecuted if he violated the law. The exit ban was issued as part of the Passport Act for any travel abroad over the weekend. The reason for the order was that it was to be expected that Gutsche would "significantly damage the reputation of the Federal Republic of Germany abroad..."Press release from the VVN-BdA from March 6, 2023 and more from it as well as:

• [Appeal process started] Maja T. is fighting against eight years in prison
  “In the appeal process against Maja T., the public prosecutor's office is calling for higher penalties and a tougher sentence. The defense is against it.
  The trial against Maja T. began on Friday before the appeal court in Budapest. More than two years after the illegal extradition from Germany and a good seven months after the sentence to eight years in prison, the future of the non-binary anti-fascist from Jena is being negotiated again. This time, three judges dealt with the so-called Budapest complex. In addition to T., the cases of the Italian Gabriele M. and Anna M., who comes from Berlin, are also up for trial. The verdict is expected on September 30th.
  Some of T.'s supporters gathered in front of the court; most of them had come from Germany. On banners they demanded “freedom for Maja” and declared: “Queers fight back.” Chants of “Free Maja” repeatedly reached the hearing room from outside. A few neo-Nazis were also there. Unlike previous days of the hearing, this time they limited their activities to a live stream in front of the courthouse. (…)
  In a personal trial statement, Maja T. found clear words regarding the criminal proceedings. Maja wanted to "remember the attempts at political influence, the pre-judgment, the pressure and coercion to extract confessions and the absolute will to condemn and punish me." Maja accused the Hungarian judicial authorities of a strategy of psychological and emotional starvation through solitary confinement. T. is “afraid of this judgment; Fear of how much longer in this cell; fear of not seeing people again; Fear that the destructive prison will rob me not only of my clothes, but also of my perspective in life."
  Maja's lawyer did not want to commit to a prognosis for the verdict. »I really don't know what's going to happen. It would be best for us to get a milder sentence, then we could end the entire proceedings here in this court." At the same time, he had the impression that the appeal court was listening to the defense: "I think all three judges were open to what we presented. That's why it's very important that you take two weeks to make a decision.…”Article by Jan Theurich and John Malamatinas from September 18, 2026 in ND online – Maja's speech before the appeal courtdocumented at basc.news 
• “Gino” Abazaj, who is wanted in the “Budapest complex,” is to be extradited to Germany: his lawyer and French unions are protesting 
  • Antifascist should be extradited to Germany
    “A Paris court decided that "Gino", who was wanted in the "Budapest complex", will be handed over to the German judiciary. His lawyer announces an appeal.
    The appeal court in Paris decided on Wednesday to extradite the anti-fascist Rexhino "Gino" Abazaj, who was wanted in the "Budapest complex", to Germany within ten days. The decision was preceded by several days of negotiations,in which the legal validity of the German arrest warrant and the extradition request were discussed . The same court had previously rejected a request from Hungary for extradition, citing concern for Abazaj's fundamental rights.
    The Hungarian public prosecutor's office accuses 30-year-old Abazaj of taking part in violent clashes with participants in the annual march of thousands of neo-Nazis for the "Day of Honor" in Budapest in February 2023. In Hungary he faces up to 24 years in prison, in Germany up to ten years because the alleged victims, Sabine B. and Robert F., are German citizens.
    The extradition court rejected Hungary's first request in April 2025. (…) Gino Abazaj is currently not in custody and is appealing the decision. His lawyer Youri Krassoulia announced this after the hearing. He described the decision as “scandalous.” The Court of Cassation must rule on the revision within 40 days. The decision can then be examined by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg…”Report from August 19, 2026 in ND online 
  • No to the extradition of anti-fascist activist Gino
    “On August 19 this year, the Paris Court of Appeal approved the extradition of anti-fascist activist Gino to Germany within 10 days.
     Gino is accused of taking part in clashes during an anti-fascist rally in Budapest in 2023, organized as a counter-event to the neo-Nazi Day of Honor demonstration commemorating a battle by the Nazi army in World War II. His “crime”: He specifically defended himself against the extreme right and refused to let them march.The French judicial authorities first spoke out against his extradition to Hungary in April 2025 because his right to a fair trial was not guaranteed and the prison conditions exposed him to inhumane treatment.But France's rejection did not end the process.
    On December 16, 2025, Gino was arrested again in the Paris area on the basis of a European arrest warrant issued by Germany for the same crime.While Germany has already extradited Maja, an anti-fascist activist persecuted in the same case, to Hungary, extradition to Germany would put Gino at risk of falling into the hands of the Hungarian authorities.Maja, who has been imprisoned in Hungary for two years and was convicted after a sham trial, is subjected to inhumane treatment on a daily basis. Extradition of Gino would mean exposing him to the same fate. (…)
    This case is part of a broader trend towards the criminalization of protest movements in Europe. At the end of July, eight people were arrested in France and subsequently charged in Italy in advance of a mobilization against the Lyon-Turin high-speed rail project. The public prosecutor's office had requested her pre-trial detention.  European police and judicial cooperation must not become an instrument for criminalizing activists and social and anti-fascist mobilizations. (…)
    The “Solidaires” union remains fully supportive of the anti-fascist activists, rejects the extradition of Gino and calls for his final release and the release of all imprisoned anti-fascists.” FrenchDeclaration of solidarity from August 21, 2026 at Solidaires (machine translated) and on the importance of solidarity:
  • Controversial Orbán law: No change of course in Budapest: Antifa remain “terrorists”
    “Péter Magyar has ruled Hungary for 100 days. But he sticks to the criminalization of Antifa. Many questions remain unanswered for Maja T. too.
    Last Wednesday, August 19th, marked the 100th day since the government of Péter Magyar took office in Hungary. 100 days marked by attempts to restore cooperation with European partners and ensure the disbursement of EU funds once set targets have been achieved. This includes reintroducing constitutional principles into the Hungarian legal system. In other words, into the same system that sentenced the German anti-fascist Maja T. to eight years in prison on February 4, 2026 under then Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, despite the lack of tangible evidence. (…)
    However, in its first 100 days, Magyar has not once commented on the law passed by Viktor Orbán in September 2025, which aims to criminalize anti-fascist groups – both local and international – as terrorist organizations. "We demand an immediate review of the recently issued government decrees that declare Antifa and the 'Hammer Gang' to be terrorist organizations, in particular the legislation on the national terrorism list," says a letter that Measz, the Hungarian Association of Resistance of Fighters and Antifascists, recently sent to the new president. (…)
    Answers to the question of the Tisza government's stance on the actual and complete restoration of the rule of law and anti-fascism are likely to emerge next month, when the new trial days in the trial against Maja T. for the events on the “Day of Honor” take place in 2023. After the elections in April 2026 and the end of Viktor Orbán's 16-year government, a new phase begins for Maja T. and the Hungarian left - between numerous promises that have so far been unfulfilled.”Article by Marta Massa from August 24th, 2026 in ND online 
• Violent attack by 5 male prison officers in prison in Budapest: Maja T. mistreated in Hungary for wearing a dress
  “A five-man commando is said to have forcibly stripped Maja T. because "women's clothing" was forbidden in men's prison. Further consequences threaten.
  A support group reported on Tuesday about a violent attack on Maja T. in prison in Budapest. Only male correctional officers threw the non-binary anti-fascist to the ground in her cell on July 17, held her down and handcuffed her. T. suffered a burst lip, a bruised ear and pain in his jaw and temple. According to the “Solidarity Committee for Maja,” this was preceded by a verbal ban from the head of security on wearing dresses or skirts that were considered “women’s clothing” – these were “forbidden in a men’s prison.” But T. refused to take off a dress. (…)
  According to the solidarity committee, the officials also tried violently to stop people from wearing the dress. T. was taken to a medical treatment room under painful conditions and was forcibly undressed. The dress was taken away and replaced with a polo shirt. All items that were read as “women’s clothing” were removed from the cell and stored. When she was transported to the hospital, Maja T. was secured with handcuffs, a belt and ankle cuffs and was accompanied by a six-man commando armed with machine guns. Jarosch also confirms this. Disciplinary proceedings were then initiated against T. on the grounds that he had attacked the officers. The Solidarity Committee and Father Jarosh reject this representation. (…)
  Jarosch also referred to the case law of the Federal Constitutional Court, which had accused the Berlin Court of Appeal of relying on general assurances from Hungary regarding the treatment of LGBTIQ+ people in custody when making the extradition decision two years ago, which was judged to be unlawful. Simply declaring that the Council of Europe's European Prison Principles and the Nelson Mandela Rules will be adhered to is not enough, the court said. (…)
  “Every person should have the right to live out their gender identity,” demands Wolfram Jarosch. If it is also confirmed that Maja T. was denied contact with her Hungarian lawyer because of the abuse, that would be another scandal. Both the Hungarian and German governments must intervene in prison conditions in Budapest, said Jarosch…”Article by Matthias Monroy from August 12, 2026 in ND online 
• Brochure “Maja’s Hunger Strike 2025”
  “A year ago, on June 5, 2025, Maja began a 40-day hunger strike. The solidarity committee for Maja, which was founded to prepare for the hunger strike, has now published a brochure in which it evaluates the hunger strike. What did the hunger strike achieve? How have the parties and the government moved? What did the solidarity movement achieve? How did our prisoners in Germany and their families experience the hunger strike? How does Maja look back on the hunger strike? What have we learned from this? These and many other questions are addressed in the brochure…”Report from June 4, 2026 of the solidarity committee for Maja's hunger strikeBrochure “Maja’s Hunger Strike 2025” 
• Maja T.'s situation after Orbán's election defeat in Hungary: "I hope that things will get better now" - her lawyer calls on the federal government to hold talks with Hungary
  • Maja T.’s situation after the Hungarian election: “I hope that things will get better now”
    “Orbán's election defeat in Hungary also gives hope in the case of Maja T. But a transfer back to Germany will take some time.
    Maja T. has been in custody in Hungary for almost two years now, currently in the Budapest city prison, centrally located, in a small cell behind massive walls. And T., a non-binary Thuringian anti-fascist, tensely followed the outcome of the election in Hungary. "The city shook and celebrated all evening. You could see that from the prison," Maja T. sent a message to the taz on Monday. And about the situation in the country: “I hope that things will get better now.” In fact, Viktor Orbán's clear election defeat in Hungary is fueling new hope in the case of Maja T. Orbán had repeatedly agitated against “Antifa” and classified the German “Antifa Ost” as a terrorist organization, most recently the Berlin “Vulkangruppe”. Orbán also personally railed against the Italian anti-fascist Ilaria Salis, who was also imprisoned in Budapest and received immunity because of her election to the European Parliament. (…)
    Wolfram Jarosch, Maja T.'s father, told taz on Monday that his child was very excited about the election results. “The hope is now of course great that my child will finally be treated fairly and will be transferred back to Germany as soon as possible.” Jarosh said he was also happy that the Orbán government, which was increasingly characterized by its dismantling of democracy and the rule of law and incitement against minorities, was voted out.
    Jarosch said he would now try to talk to the German Foreign Ministry and the European Parliament again. The case of Maja T. must “play an important role” in the upcoming EU negotiations on constitutional reforms in Hungary and therefore frozen EU funds. Jarosch was already in Brussels on Monday and met, among others, Ilaria Salis and the Vice President of the EU Parliament, Pina Picierno.
    Maja T.'s lawyer Sven Richwin also told the taz: "Even if constitutional reforms may still take some time, Maja can at least no longer serve as Orbán's anti-European projection surface." Specifically, it is now the task of German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) to “restart the broken talks with Hungary about the Maja T. case and to accelerate a return.” (…)
    Even under Orbán, Hungary has already promised that Maja T. will be able to serve her prison sentence in Germany - this also corresponds to current European law. The concern, however, was that the justice system under Orbán could delay or block this return. This concern has now become significantly less, lawyer Richwin told the taz.
    All the more so since the new head of government, Péter Magyar, had already called on the evening of the election for all of the “puppets” that Orbán had appointed to resign. Magyar specifically mentioned President Támas Sulyok, but also the Supreme Public Prosecutor Gábor Bálint Nagy and the heads of the Constitutional Court…”Article by Konrad Litschko from April 13, 2026 in the taz online 
  • Maja T.'s lawyer calls on the federal government to hold talks with Hungary. The German imprisoned in Budapest is hopeful after Orbán's defeat
    "After Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's election defeat, the imprisoned German activist Maja T. appeared cautiously optimistic. "This should give civil society, the population, room to breathe," Maja T. told taz in a message sent from prison in Budapest. “Even if constitutional reforms will probably take some time, Maja can at least no longer serve as Orbán’s anti-European projection surface,” said her lawyer Sven Richwin. (…) Richwin called on Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) to “resume” the broken talks with Hungary about the case and to accelerate a return. The Foreign Office told the taz that nothing had changed in the legal situation. However, the Foreign Office remains involved in the case at a “high level” and will continue to raise it with the Hungarian side. In July 2025, Wadephul announced that he would hold talks with the Hungarian government about Maja T. The activist was “faced with the most serious allegations,” he said. In Germany, too, she would have to “expect criminal proceedings,” he said. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) defended the Hungarian verdict against them shortly after it was announced in February.” Report from April 14, 2026 in Zeit online 
• Cross-border repression: German order? Police check Ilaria Salis in the hotel
  "... Two police officers detained the European MP Ilaria Salis in a hotel on Saturday morning and checked her for an hour. (...) The parliamentarian Salis was one of the accused in the so-called Budapest complex in Hungary. This concerns crimes committed by an "Antifa Ost" that was allegedly founded in Germany. After the Italian successfully ran for the left-green list in the European Parliament and received immunity, the Budapest court had to order her release. The fact that Salis is also being investigated in Germany is not known (…) The Italian MEP was harassed on the instructions of “a third European country,” writes the police (…)
  Controls ordered by other Schengen states are common in the left-wing context. They are carried out on the basis of Article 36 in the Schengen Borders Code. In covert measures, those affected should not be arrested, but rather investigated - if possible without them noticing. If the person comes across a police or border check, a report is made to the police issuing the alert or a domestic secret service. This notification contains information about the travel route, the means of transport used and fellow travelers. If a “targeted” check is also marked in the Article 36 alert, those affected or their vehicle will be searched and questioned. This does not include searching an apartment or hotel room. Alerts under Article 36 may also only apply to random police checks or border crossings - this does not legitimize home visits or the "vulnerable speeches" known in Germany. That leaves the European Investigation Order (EIO), which has been in effect since 2016, modeled on the European Arrest Warrant. This means that the authorities of a state can order house searches or other coercive police measures. However, these applications are not stored in the Schengen information system, but are transmitted to the responsible states via the EU Agency for Judicial Cooperation. (…) Her lawyer Eugenio Losco told the ANSA news agency that Salis had not been given any control documents. He therefore suspects that "new regulations issued in Italy that expand preventive police powers could have influenced the control."This refers to a “security decree” from the Giorgia Meloni government in February, which significantly expands preventive police powers. It may detain people for up to twelve hours without judicial authorization at public events where there is a “reasonable” suspicion of a threat to public order or security. (…)
  The Left Alliance parliamentarians Angelo Bonelli and Nicola Fratoianni visited the head of the Roman police authority on Saturday. The two then explained that Salis' control violated Article 68 of the Italian Constitution. It fundamentally restricts searches, arrests and similar measures against parliamentarians without the prior consent of the relevant chamber. Bonelli and Fratoianni asked Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi to explain why the government had not intervened, even though the possibly German report had already been in the Schengen information system since the beginning of March. Fratoianni also demanded that Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani summon the German ambassador: “We want to know what is going on here. “This is a gigantic matter.” Italian and German authorities initially did not respond to press inquiries about this.” Contribution by Matthias Monroy from March 29, 2026 in New Germany online 
• Right-wing memorial event in Budapest: Day of Honor now even more dishonorable 
  “In Hungary “Antifa” is considered a terrorist organization. Nevertheless, activists travel to a neo-Nazi meeting in Budapest – and experience repression.
  A red banner flutters behind a folding table on which two small loudspeakers stand. It features a fist smashing a swastika, accompanied by the Hungarian words “Soha Többé Fasizmust”, never again fascism. The only reason why this banner can be shown publicly here, next to Margarethenbrücke, is because it is hanging at a press conference and not at a rally. Since September 2025, the Hungarian government has classified all “Antifa groups” as “terrorist organizations,” as it said in an official statement.
  The press conference was organized by three anti-fascist associations from Germany, Austria and Hungary in close cooperation with the umbrella organization Fédération Internationale des Resistants, or FIR for short. Classifying the “Antifa groups” as terrorist not only fuels the global right’s myth that “Antifa” is a centrally controlled organization, but also makes legal anti-fascist protest in Hungary impossible.
  Nevertheless, on Saturday, the so-called Day of Honor – an international meeting of right-wing extremists – around 20 to 30 activists gathered on the Pest side of the city. They listen quietly to the words coming from the speakers. “I would have loved to take part in the memorial rally of our Hungarian sister association MEASZ today, where Auschwitz survivor Katalin Sommer was also supposed to speak,” reads a woman the greetings of the federal chairman of the VVN-BdA, Florian Gutsche. "I would also like to protest, as in the past, against the largest international meeting of the global neo-Nazi scene. I can't do any of that. Because the Orbán government has banned all anti-fascist activities for this weekend." The press conference lasts a total of 45 minutes. But halfway through, the number of police officers doubles, while the number of activists shrinks to a handful. Finally, around 50 officers surround the remaining people and only let them leave the field after their identities have been established.
  Day by Nazis for Nazis
  Almost as long as the Day of Honor has existed, the Association of Hungarian Resistance Fighters and Antifascists, or MEASZ for short, has been organizing a counter-event. The purpose is to clarify what really happened that day and what crimes the Hungarian government, in full view of the population, committed against homosexuals, communists and especially Jews during the Second World War. The Day of Honor is actually a day of remembrance by neo-Nazis for neo-Nazis. (…)
  This year, various right-wing actions are also taking place in the city. Some, like the Börzsöny action group's “breakout tours,” are legal and attract thousands of right-wing extremists and historical revisionists. Others, such as the rallies and right-wing rock concerts organized by Legio Hungaria and Blood and Honor, are illegal. These events, spread throughout the city, serve to network international right-wing extremists. In advance, members of “Legio Hungaria” lay wreaths on the graves of fallen fascists.
  On the other side of the Danube, near the meeting point of the “commemorative and hiking tour”, anti-fascist counter-protest was formed despite the ban. This was announced the day before with printed flyers in order to prevent early intervention by the police. But the plan fails: after less than 15 minutes, the police break up the meeting and take the personal details of around 20 participants. There are no arrests…”Report from Budapest by Julian Csép on February 15, 2026 in the taz online , see also
  • on bskythe taz video from February 15th. : “Neo-Nazis are mobilizing in Budapest this weekend for the “Day of Honor”. Maja T.'s father speaks at an anti-fascist press conference“
  • “Day of Honor” in Budapest: At night in the forest between swastikas and steel helmets – What happens if thousands of neo-Nazis are allowed to march undisturbed? DER STANDARD was there for one night
    “The aim of the tour is to commemorate the Hungarian and German soldiers who heroically defended Budapest against the Bolshevik Red Army for two and a half months during the Second World War.” On their homepage, the organizers of the “Outbreak Tour” invite people to Budapest every year for a 60-kilometer hike from Buda Castle to the small village of Szomor. But who this event attracts can be seen on this cloudy Saturday in February. In the quiet, northern part, Kapisztrán Square, a queue hundreds of meters long forms. Men in tailored Wehrmacht uniforms with imperial eagles and SS runes, next to skinheads in bomber jackets, next to hikers in functional jackets with trekking poles. “White Pride” and “The Old Guard” can be seen on T-shirts, and the black sun on jackets. A helper shouts over the crowd: “Everyone line up for the 60 kilometers on the left!” (…) DER STANDARD mingled with the hikers to document what happens when one of Europe's largest neo-Nazi meetings takes place undisturbed. (…) Before heading down from the castle and towards the mountains out of town, each participant pays the equivalent of ten euros at the start and receives a “hiking pass” – a small booklet into which stamps are pressed at stations along the 60-kilometer route. Like a scavenger hunt, only the stamps will show Nazi symbols. (…) The organizers of the hike declare that the event is not political and comments on this are not permitted. But anyone who looks around the route will see the opposite.There is a young man in military costume and a steel helmet with the inscription: “The Third Way” – a small neo-Nazi party in Germany. Another wears a party jacket with the print: “National, revolutionary, socialist.” The “Young Nationale” can also be seen on T-shirts and backpacks. (…) At the first stamp station next to a small church, a man in full SS officer uniform and a rifle in his hands is waiting. Participants line up for a photo together, like at a tourist attraction. (…) At the next stop, a museum provided firearms, not functional, but real enough for posing. A teenager holds one of the weapons into the camera. (…) The stamp stand here is “decorated” with T-shirts with SS symbols, and in the background there is another swastika flag. Men in SS uniforms stamp the passports, a radio in the style of the Second World War accompanies the whole thing with martial tones. Some are celebrating their graduation here, others are not even halfway there yet. You will continue hiking throughout the night and into the early hours of the morning. Nobody will stop them. Above all, no counter-protest, which has also been held at the castle every year by left-wing demonstrators. Things have changed since this year. (…) A few hours before the start of the escape tour, around 30 people, activists and representatives of anti-fascist organizations had gathered in a small park near the Danube. The Austrian concentration camp association was also there, as was Wolfram Jarosch, Maja T.'s father. The press conference lasted less than half an hour when the situation changed.Around 70 Hungarian police officers arrived and surrounded those present, took personal details and carried out identity checks. A police officer explained that it was a forbidden event…” Report by Melanie Raidl from February 16, 2026 in the Standard online 
  • Budapest: Many neo-Nazis again at the “Day of Honor”. Police stop anti-fascist protest and establish personal details  
    "On Saturday, several thousand European right-wing extremists once again hiked 60 kilometers for the "Day of Honor" from Buda Castle in the Hungarian capital to the village of Szomor. It is the highlight of the international neo-Nazi meeting that the "Hungarian National Front" initiated in Budapest in 1997. This "breakout hike" commemorates the fallen soldiers of the Hungarian fascist Arrow Cross who escaped from the capital in 1945 before the Red Army fled.As is usual at the event, many participants wore authentic Wehrmacht and SS uniforms with corresponding insignia. Neo-Nazis with relevant clothing and patches were also visible from afar, including from “The Third Way” and the “Young Nationale” party from Germany. Members of the “Identitarian Movement” also arrived. The right-wing extremist Hungarian party “Mi Hazánk” supported the event with a merchandising stand…”Article by Matthias Monroy from February 16, 2026 in ND online and before:
  • Clear path for Nazis, bans and debanking against Antifa: German-Hungarian offensive continues
    “Before the fascist “Day of Honor” in Budapest, all counter-protests are prohibited, and even Shoah commemorations are banned. At the same time, anti-fascist organizations in Germany are losing their bank accounts. The pressure on anti-fascism is growing across Europe.(…)
    "Whether in Hungary or here: anti-fascism is declared outlawed. For anyone who is suspected of actively opposing Nazis or who wants to send a clear signal against right-wing agitation by commemorating those murdered in the Shoah, neither basic rights such as freedom of assembly nor basic principles of the rule of law apply in court proceedings. And financial harassment such as debanking is added to this in order to weaken structures," explained Hartmut Brückner from the Federal Executive Board of the Red Aid Association. V. "We must stand together against these diverse attacks. Our solidarity goes out to all antifascists who are affected by legal proceedings, bans on gatherings and reprisals such as account terminations. We are all Antifa!"“  Press release from Rote Hilfe from February 13, 2026 
• “Day of Honor” 2026 in Hungary: Anti-fascism is criminalized – historical revision approved – alternative protest actions in Berlin, Dresden, Frankfurt/M. and Vienna
  • Further repression and sanctions because of Antifa: bans on demonstrations on the “Day of Honor” in Hungary, even more debanking in Germany
    “A week ago, the Vienna Concentration Camp Association reported that a bus trip planned for next Saturday with the Association of those Persecuted by the Nazi Regime - Association of Antifascists (VVN-BdA) and other associations to a memorial service of the Association of Hungarian Resistance Fighters (MEASZ) in Budapest had to be canceled: The authorities there have banned the event, which was supposed to take place parallel to this year's right-wing extremist "Day of Honor".
    The background is a new regulation from Victor Orbán's government, according to which everything that has to do with anti-fascism is to be banned. Last year, Orbán had “Antifa” declared a terrorist organization. The anti-fascist associations from Hungary, Germany and Austria wanted to hold an event at the Shoah Memorial in the Hungarian capital on the “Day of Honor”.…”Article by Matthias Monroy from February 11, 2026 in ND online , see also:
  • Hungary: Antifascism is criminalized – historical revision approved
    “The Fédération Internationale des Resistants (FIR) - Association Antifasciste, the umbrella organization of partisans, veterans of the anti-fascist resistance, deportees, family members and today's anti-fascists, together with the Association of Hungarian Resistance Fighters and Anti-Fascists (MEASZ), the German Association of those Persecuted by the Nazi Regime - Association of Anti-Fascists (VVN-BdA), and the Austrian Federal Association of Austrian Resistance Fighters and Anti-Fascists, Victims of Fascism (Concentration Camp Association) the Hungarian government's handling of what is currently the largest annual Nazi march on the “Day of Honor” in Hungary and the verdict against Maja T. On February 4th, the defendant Maja T. was sentenced to eight years in prison in a political show trial in Budapest because she was allegedly involved in a “terrorist” attack on Hungarian neo-Nazis. The evidence surrounding the physical altercation two years ago did not reveal any direct involvement of the defendant, nor did the Hungarian justice system claim that the actors were a criminal organization. The Orbán government's declaration last year - following Donald Trump's instructions - declaring "Antifa" a "terrorist organization" does not change this. (…)
    The background to the proceedings was a violent confrontation against the march of international neo-fascist groups on the “Day of Honor”, ​​which has been taking place in Budapest for many years and which means the rehabilitation of the SS, Wehrmacht and Hungarian collaborators. The FIR and its member associations have repeatedly protested against this form of historical revisionism and called on the Hungarian authorities to stop such provocations. Events for the “Day of Honor” are planned in Budapest again this year. While in previous years the city administration has tried to prevent the neo-fascist meeting through bans or requirements, this time the police, which are under the direct leadership of the Orbán government, have banned all anti-fascist protests against this meeting. This even applies to a memorial campaign with Auschwitz survivor Katalin Sommer, who was supposed to speak at the memorial for the murdered Jewish people on the banks of the Danube. Neo-Nazi activities, in which actors can be seen in historical SS uniforms with swastikas and other fascist symbols, were expressly approved by the police. The anti-fascist associations from Germany, Austria and Hungary, which have been committed to the rehabilitation of Nazi associations for many years, condemn this decision by the Hungarian government and the security forces directly subordinate to it, which means a reversal of victims and perpetrators, a criminalization of anti-fascists and a carte blanche for neo-Nazis. That's why there are demonstrations in Berlin, Vienna and other cities in front of Hungarian embassies and consulates against the ban on the registered protests in Budapest.Many years ago the slogan of the FIR was “Never again an SS Europe!” – apparently the slogan is more relevant than ever feared.” FIR press statement from February 9, 2026 of the three traditional anti-fascist associations from Germany, Austria and Hungary together with the umbrella organization FIR to ban anti-fascist protests against the neo-fascist “Day of Honor” march next weekend in Budapest and in it:
    • “To mark this occasion, the following protest actions have been planned in Germany and Austria:
      –    The VVN-BdA is planning Friday, February 13thBerlinAt 5 p.m. a rally in front of the Hungarian embassy in Berlin.
      –    Friday, February 13th, the VVN-BdA Saxony is planningDresdenat 4 p.m. a rally in front of the Hungarian consulate, as well as the VVN-BdA inFrankfurt/Main.
      –    The concentration camp association is planning for Saturday, February 14th at 1 p.mViennaa protest in front of the Hungarian embassy there...”
• What the political verdict against Maja T. will be in the afternoon: In Germany there are demonstrations for the release and transfer - in Budapest only neo-Nazis are allowed in front of the court
  • The court in Hungary has sentenced Maja T. to eight years in prison - German authorities share responsibility - bring Maja back now!
    
    • Verdict in the Budapest complex in Hungary: eight years in prison for Maja T.
      “The court in Hungary sentenced Maja T. to eight years in prison for attempted bodily harm and membership in a criminal organization. The lawyers will discuss promptly whether she will appeal. (…)The court convicted T. in two cases of complicity in attempted grievous bodily harm and in two cases as an accomplice in attempted grievous bodily harm - all as part of a criminal organization. This is what Maja T.'s German lawyer, Sven Richwin, told LTO. In addition to the two German lawyers - in addition to Richwin and lawyer Maik Elster - T. has a Hungarian defense lawyer. How the lawyers and Maja T. will deal with this verdict and whether they will appeal will be discussed immediately after the verdict has been announced. In Hungary, the appeal is a purely written procedure, explains Richwin.
      Prison sentences were also imposed on two other defendants
      Maja T. has been in custody in Hungary since mid-2024 following an illegal transfer. Pre-trial detention should also be counted in Hungary. However, the federal government had secured assurances that the sentence could be enforced in Germany. If T. were to appeal, it would be conceivable that she would remain in Hungary, but she had repeatedly criticized the prison conditions as inhumane. It cannot be ruled out that the Hungarian public prosecutor's office will appeal against this verdict. At eight years, the court stayed well below the maximum possible sentence under Hungarian law, after which a prison sentence of up to 24 years would have been possible.
      The verdicts against two other defendants, the German Anna M. and the Italian Gabriele M., were announced in their absence. Anna M. was sentenced to two years in prison for membership in a criminal organization, Gabriele M. was sentenced to seven years in prison - the exact charges against him are not known…”Article by Tanja Podolski from February 4th, 2026 on LTO.de 
    • Verdict against Maja T.: eight years in prison without parole
      “In Budapest, anti-fascist Maja T. is sentenced to long prison, despite questionable evidence. T.'s family is horrified - T. appeals. (…)
      The public prosecutor wants an appeal, and so does Maja T
      And on Wednesday Sós also sentenced the Berliner Anna M. and the Italian Gabriele M. to two and seven years in prison. Anna M. on probation for a period of five years. Both were tried in absentia, which is possible in Hungary. The two were also part of the criminal organization and took part in the attacks. The judge is exceeding the sentence that was last imposed in Munich for the Budapest attacks: Hanna S. from Nuremberg received five years there.
      The Budapest public prosecutor's office announced an appeal for all three convicts in court - with the aim of toughening the sentence. Maja T., on the other hand, declares in the courtroom that she will also appeal, “with the intention of acquittal”. Applause erupts from the audience. The defense attorneys for Anna M. and Gabriele M. are also appealing and also want acquittals…”Report from Budapest by Konrad Litschko from February 4th, 2026 in the taz online 
    • No final word – Maja’s speech at the end of the trial
      “…Every judgment that is made here will also have to be measured by whether and how my speech and appearance will be punished. In recent months, however, the impression has become stronger that the Hungarian state does not allow these contradictions. Demonstrations and rallies are banned and solidarity with this process is made more difficult. A threatening atmosphere is being set up to make people afraid of being treated as terrorists. Are protest and solidarity, whether from our own parents or from unknown people, really what endangers our society? Are you afraid of me, afraid of my dad when he grabs the microphone, or a friend who shouts a slogan?!
      25 months of pre-trial detention are behind me. After the first six months of imprisonment in Germany, I was illegally extradited here. (…)
      Long-term solitary confinement with less than 2 hours of meaningful human contact per day or solitary confinement is considered white torture. I've been putting up with it for 18 months. The reason for this is grotesque. At first it was said that everyone else should be protected from me because I was brutal and dangerous. After a year, they suddenly claimed that they wanted to protect me from other people's hatred of queer people…" From theText of the speech at basc held in the Budapest Court on February 4, 2026
    • Statement from the Solidarity Committee on the verdict against Maja on February 4th, 2026
      "Dear fellow human beings, dear comrades-in-arms, Maja was sentenced today to 8 years in prison under stricter prison and security conditions. We are the solidarity committee for Maja, we are family, friends and supporters, and we would like to turn to you with our thoughts. (…) When we look at Maja's case, we see that no ordinary prosecution of bodily harm offenses was carried out here. (…) Maja was made an extra in a show trial for a year in which There is no presumption of innocence and where the principles of the rule of law, as we still know them from Germany, are suspended. They have declared Maja a criminal and terrorist (…) Now the judge wants to put Maja in prison for 8 years under stricter prison and security conditions. There is no evidence that Maja was even involved in the two physical attacks that the public prosecutor accuses Maja of In the second case, the public prosecutor claims that a person wearing a red hat is Maja on one of the video recordings from a security camera. However, the recordings show how this unarmed person walks past the crime scene and then walks away from the crime scene, so the public prosecutor believes that Maja's involvement in the crime is proven The Hungarian state's desire for persecution.This approach by Hungary and Germany - from the threat of punishment, arrest and extradition to solitary confinement to the show trial and the completely excessive verdict - is obviously completely disproportionate in view of the actual bodily harm offenses and the more than thin evidence base. But it is very useful if we assume that parts of the German and Hungarian states are waging a campaign against anti-fascism. They are making an example of Maja and are targeting all of us. (…) We must prepare ourselves for many more years of solidarity work in the future and find political answers. In addition to practical support, this means that we must continue to fight tirelessly - for immediate transfer to house arrest, for immediate transfer back to Germany, for as much relief from prison as possible, for release as quickly as possible. We hope that we will continue to have as many of you as possible by our side. The first addressee of our demands will continue to be the Federal Government, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and the Foreign Office, because the return of Maja is a political matter and will only be achieved through intergovernmental negotiations between Hungary and Germany. With her hunger strike, Maja has already managed to get Wadephul to promise to work for the repatriation. Now it's up to us to put him under pressure until he follows up his words with actions. Of course, Maja is not the only case. Major proceedings against anti-fascists have now begun before the higher regional courts in Dresden and Düsseldorf.They also require our strength and attention; these defendants also deserve our solidarity and support. However, we think - and we agree with many of the defendants in these proceedings - that the return of Maja and the prevention of the extradition of Zaid and Gino must remain the top two priorities for the solidarity movement. We ask you to take this into account when dividing your forces. But not only solidarity work must continue, but also our common anti-fascist fight, regardless of whether it is about armed neo-Nazis or the inhumane policies of the governments. Just as pastors, families, politicians, civil rights activists, antifa and radical leftists gathered behind Maja during the hunger strike, we all want to defend ourselves against fascism together. (…) Maja always thinks of you out there, is very grateful and feels connected to all of us. Despite all adversities, Maja draws the strength for her own resistance from our common movement. Maja rejected the prosecutor's fishy deal - 14 years in prison in exchange for a full confession -, gave courageous speeches, always stood up for her own values ​​and ideals, exposed the grievances in prison, and went on a 40-day hunger strike. Maja did all of this not only for herself, but also for the other defendants, for Zaid, who is also threatened with extradition to Hungary, and for all of us. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you from the bottom of our hearts who have shown solidarity since Maja's arrest in December 2023.(…) We are happy when people in Germany and elsewhere take to the streets today and in the next few days and protest against this unjust verdict. (…) Our full solidarity also goes out to Anna and Gabriele, who were sentenced in absentia in the same proceedings as Maja to 2 and 7 years in prison, which they will have to serve in Germany and Italy, respectively.” Press statement from the Solidarity Committee for Maja from February 4, 2026 at BASC News online 
    • Judicial terror in Budapest: anti-fascist Maja sentenced to eight years
      “On February 4, 2026, a Budapest court sentenced three anti-fascists to long prison sentences. The verdict in the Budapest complex clearly shows that anti-fascism is being prosecuted as a capital crime in Hungary. (…)
      Before the verdict was announced, a shortened version of a medical “report” was read out, which was based on a two-hour appointment and portrayed Maja as hateful and aggressive. This demonization of the anti-fascist person was a common thread throughout the entire process. In a closing statement, Maja once again took a stand against the countless violations of the law in Germany and especially in Hungary, especially the years of destructive solitary confinement, and rejected the slander against anti-fascism.
      Today's verdict is clearly intended to set an example to intimidate the anti-fascist movement: According to the court's wishes, Maja should remain in prison for eight years under difficult prison conditions, while the other two were sentenced to seven years or two years, which are suspended for five years. For Maja, such a length of imprisonment in Hungary would be life-threatening - and this is deliberately taken into account in order to further strengthen the deterrence. (…)
      Maja must be taken out of the Hungarian dungeon immediately and brought back to Germany. The complicity of the German judiciary with the right-wing authoritarian Hungarian regime must end!” He concluded: "Our full solidarity goes out to Maja and the other two convicted anti-fascists. Freedom for Maja! Freedom for all Antifas! Bring Maja back!“”Press release dated February 4th, 2026 from Rote Hilfe 
    • “The verdict is in, 8 years in prison for Maja T. A high sentence was expected, the judge had already made it clear during the proceedings that he was aiming for a harsh sentence. But German authorities also share responsibility - through the illegal extradition to Hungary…”Thread from analysis & criticism from February 4, 2026 on bsky 
    • “With the verdict announced today, the court in #Budapest imposed a prison sentence of 8 years on #Maja. This ends a process that had nothing to do with the rule of law. We call on the federal government: bring Maja back now! #freemaja“Post from RAV from February 4, 2026 on bsky 
  • “The verdict against Maja T. is due to be handed down in Budapest today for accused attacks on right-wing extremists. Up to 24 years in prison are possible. Neo-Nazis stand in front of the court. As before, left-wing rallies are banned. Police everywhere. There is still remaining program in the trial, verdict only in the afternoon.
    In advance, German politicians had once again called for a constitutional verdict against Maja T.. It remains to be seen whether this appeal will still be received. During Maja T.'s defense attorney's plea, the judge seemed rather uninterested. (…)
    In front of the court, Wolfram Jarosch, Maja T.'s father, also addresses the judge directly and asks him to make a fair verdict. “Show us that this is not a political show trial.”
    Several members of the Bundestag are also on site. Martin Schirdewan (Left) calls the trial against Maja T. a “test case for the rule of law in Hungary” that will probably fail. Helge Limburg (Greens) criticizes the fact that “a political example is obviously being made” of T.
    More right-wing extremists parade in front of the court with the banner “Day of Honor”. Some try to get to the group around Maja T.'s father, but the police stop them. A neo-Nazi tries to film the list of registered people at the entrance. There are also neo-Nazis in the hall, including the German Sebastian Schmidtke.
    Then Maja T. is led into the courtroom, as always in handcuffs and on a chain. The neo-Nazis boo, relatives and supporters applaud briefly. Maja T. smiles at them, but otherwise seems tense. Lots of TV cameras in the hall.
    The day starts with a psychological report on Maja T. Judge Sós explains that there are no illnesses, but that there are “difficulties in adapting”. T. criticized the fact that the report was not available in advance: “I would have liked to have read it beforehand.” T.'s lawyer believes that his right to defense has been violated.”Thread by Konrad Litschko from February 4th, 2026 on bsky with videos – please pay attention to the likely continuation
  • “Free Maya!The verdict against Maja is expected today - demos have been announced in numerous cities: Berlin, Frankfurt a.M., Leipzig, Dresden, Jena, Düsseldorf, Hanover, Hamburg, Bad Cannstatt,... Free All Antifas!“Post by Black Mosquito from February 4, 2026 on bsky with mobile video
    • #b0402: 5:30 p.m. | Rio Reiser Square | Kreuzberg // 6.30 p.m. Schlesisches Tor
• Verdict expected in Hungary: Maja T. has been imprisoned for a year and a half, and the trial in Budapest could end on Wednesday. 
  “…Now there are only a few days left. Maja T. will probably find out on Wednesday what punishment the Hungarian justice system is planning. Until then, T., 25, nonbinary, anti-fascist from Thuringia, will continue to sit in a prison cell in the middle of Budapest, two by three meters tall, behind bars and plexiglass. Right next to the regional court, which will now make the verdict. One that could mean up to 24 years in prison. If this actually happens, the judge's ruling is likely to trigger protests - not just in the German left-wing scene, which is already calling for protests in several cities. There were also recent solidarity actions in Italy and France. There are also warning voices against Hungary from federal politics. A country whose rule of law is questioned by the EU could impose a prison sentence on a German citizen that is beyond any sentence imposed here. (…)
  On Wednesday, T. will be allowed to speak in court again. It is doubtful that the final words will have any effect on Judge József Sós, who is leading the trial alone. During T.'s defense attorney's plea, he barely looked up from his laptop. Sós wants to announce his verdict directly on Wednesday - without any further time for reflection. Whether that will work remains to be seen. For Wolfram Jarosch, T.'s father, who has traveled to almost every day of the trial so far, this reinforces the impression: "That in a staged show trial the verdict has long been determined." He is “expecting the worst.” Sven Richwin, T.'s German lawyer, calls the prosecutor's plea "a farce given the lack of evidence." Since the judge has always followed the public prosecutor's office, "unfortunately there is a risk of a conviction in the direction of the maximum penalty required." If that happens, T. will then be faced with a difficult question. An appeal would be possible - which would prolong the harsh pre-trial detention. Or to accept the verdict and thus open up the chance of finally being transferred to Germany. Hungary had already assured before the extradition that it would be possible to serve a prison sentence in Germany after a legally binding verdict. The only question is: under what conditions would T. be transferred back? (…)
  On Wednesday, not only a verdict against Maja T. will be handed down in the Budapest court. Two other defendants were also tried in absentia: the Berliner Anna M. and the Italian Gabriele M. The German was one of those arrested directly in Budapest in February 2023. She was later released and then left for Germany. Anna M. is not accused of any attacks, only of membership in a criminal organization. Her Hungarian defense attorney demanded that she be acquitted because the association did not exist that way. The public prosecutor's office also demanded a prison sentence of several years for Anna M.. However, this would only be enforced if M. ever set foot on Hungarian soil. (…)
  German security authorities are already looking at the verdicts in Budapest with concern. “In the scene, support for left-wing extremist criminals and violent criminals is generally high,” says the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. “Solidarity with ‘Maja’ was at times a focus of the left-wing extremist scene.” (…) Maja T. herself told the taz during her prison visit that the prospect of up to 24 years in prison – almost as long as her previous life – was of course frightening. "Permanent." It is the great solidarity that allows T. to persevere. Maja T. recently sent the taz another saying from prison by Antonio Gramsci, the Italian communist: As long as you keep your own beliefs and morals, nothing is lost. Article by Konrad Litschko from January 30, 2026 in the taz online 
• Fascist scene in Hungary in front of the court, “Anti-Antifa” shirt in the courtroom and a judge who doesn’t listen to the defense’s plea for an acquittal for Maja T
  • Hungary against anti-fascist: Defense lawyer demands acquittal for Maja T.
    “The trial against Maja T. is still ongoing in Budapest, and the trial is now coming to an end. In his plea, the defense attorney criticized the lack of evidence.
    On Thursday, Maja T. was led in handcuffs and on a leash by masked security forces into the expansive Hall 36 of the Budapest Regional Court, which was hung with chandeliers. Just like on the 15 days of the trial before. The non-binary anti-fascist, 25 years old, wears her hair down and wears a knitted sweater, looks exhausted - but smiles at the parents, siblings and friends sitting on the audience benches. And they smile and wave back. (…)
    Maja T.'s defense attorney, Tamás Bajáky, is calling for an acquittal on Thursday. There is no evidence that Maja T. was involved in the attacks, he emphasizes. The connection to Johann G. is also not proven, nor is the reason for Maja T.'s stay in Budapest. The public prosecutor's office is making allegations that have not been proven. According to Bajáky, Maja T. is being made into a “main protagonist” from a peripheral figure in Budapest simply because she is the only person on trial for the attacks in Hungary. (…) On Thursday, defense attorney Bajáky once again criticized the illegal extradition and the miserable prison conditions. There was also no fair procedure: exculpatory points were not taken into account and only a few documents were translated into German. Even when Maja T. was on hunger strike, negotiations continued.
    And Bajáky has a video of the first attack shown again in court, in which, according to the public prosecutor, Maja T. is said to be a person with a red hat. But the photos only show her at the edge, not striking. Accurate identification never took place, complains Bajáky. The second attack is even more unclear. There are no videos of this. The right-wing extremists attacked there were also unable to describe the perpetrators. Nevertheless, the prosecution attributes Maja T. to the group of attackers, criticizes Bajáky. “It’s not coherent.”
    And the defense attorney for co-accused Berliner Anna M. is also demanding an acquittal for his client.(…)
    On the right-wing extremist side, however, rallies continue to be approved. Neo-Nazis will also be marching on Thursday in black jackets with the group's emblem. The police shield her from Maja T.'s relatives and supporters. Wolfram Jarosch, Maja T.'s father, who has hardly missed a day of the trial, tried to register a rally for Thursday - this was also rejected. In the morning, Jarosch complained to the court that it was a scandal how one-sidedly freedom of expression was being restricted in Hungary. He fears “the worst” for the verdict against his child…” Report by Konrad Litschko from January 22nd, 2026 in the taz online 
  • See also thisMinutes from January 22, 2026 – 16th day of negotiations in Budapest on January 25th at basc and in it: “Before the court: There were around 30 Nazis standing around in smaller groups near the courthouse. At 8 a.m., a press conference was held in front of the court by people in solidarity. At 8:15 a.m. the Nazis who were standing around came running in uniform clothing and lined up opposite the press conference. Among them were Lipták Tamas, an alleged victim in the Budpest complex and a cadre of the neo-Nazi group “Légio Hungária”, as well as other well-known faces from the Hungarian fascist scene. Partial filming was carried out by the Nazis. The police positioned themselves between both gatherings.
    In court
    The courtroom was filled. Among the spectators were around 50 solidarity process observers, including family, friends and parliamentary process observers. Seven Nazis were also present, including Lipták Tamas accompanied by Incze Béla (central figure of the “Légio Hungária”), as well as Ágoston Balázs (right-wing journalist) and Moys Zoltán (organizer of the “Outbreak 60” hike, the central event on the “Day of Honor”). The latter wore an “Anti-Antifa” shirt. Sebastian Schmidtke (long-time Berlin neo-Nazi) came from Germany…”
• The verdict in Budapest in the trial against Maja - the perfect enemy for the Orban government - will not be pronounced until February 4, 2026 instead of January 22nd
  “Today was the first of four announced trial days in Budapest. However, the verdict will now only be pronounced on the fifth day of the trial, on February 4th. The judge cited the inadvertent late sending of documents for a medical report as the reason for the postponement.The public prosecutor's office is to make its plea on January 19th, the lawyers' pleas are to be made on January 22nd and, if necessary, additionally on February 4th.Today's trial was characterized by a very poor and at times incomprehensible translation. This was primarily about medical assessments.      
  While a demonstration by right-wing extremists took place on the corner in front of the court, all attempts to register a demonstration of support for Maja were banned. The reason given was that there could be supporters of the “terrorist organization Antifa-East” among the participants.At the same time, the court denied access to many visitors for this and the next trial dates. Apparently there are no places available. The auditorium was only a quarter full today.
  Following the trial, family members were pursued for a long time through the city by police officers.Maja's father, Wolfram Jarosch, says: "There are elections in Hungary on April 12th. Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the trial is being turned into a political show trial to be used in the election campaign. As a queer, anti-fascist and foreign person, Maja offers the perfect enemy image for the Orban government. Now family members and friends are already being branded as terrorist supporters. This gives rise to fears of the worst when the verdict is announced.”“Press release from January 14, 2026 at BASC , also hear:
  • The last days of the trial are approaching: difficult solidarity with Maja
    “The Budapest complex: One of the largest intimidation attempts against left-wing movements. At the center of this is Maya. A non-binary anti-fascist who has been in solitary confinement for over a year in Hungary, a state in which queer people are denied the existence. Now the final days of the trial are upon us. In the interview is Carlo, a person who supports the process in solidarity.”Interview from January 14, 2026 on Radio Dreyeckland 
• Next judicial farce in the Budapest complex: Trial begins in Düsseldorf on January 13th: Antifascism is labeled as extremism and stylized as a danger 
  • Budapest complex: trial begins in the terrorist bunker. 140 people support A