The Hungarian MEP, Béla Kovács, belonging to the radical nationalist party Jobbik, frequently visiting Moscow and, therefore, suspected by the magistrates of having had regular meetings with Russian diplomats, was accused of "having been involved in spying on interests of Foreign countries". The countries that would have been the object of espionage by Kovács are not, however, named in the communiqué.
Kovács has always denied the accusations, even those that had been advanced in 2014 by the Hungarian intelligence, before the European elections.
In 2015, the European Parliament voted to lift immunity, thus authorizing investigations in Hungary.
According to investigations by the Hungarian prosecutor, the allegations, brought before a court in Budapest, also include "espionage against EU institutions", tax fraud and falsification of documents.
If Kovács were to be convicted of espionage charges, the MEP could go to jail for between two and eight years.