Hungarian Parliament Approves 'Sovereignty' Law Assailed By Critics, West

The Hungarian parliament passed legislation on "protecting national sovereignty" on December 12 -- a move nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban says will prevent political interference by foreign persons but which domestic critics and Western officials say will restrict dissent much the way Russia's "foreign agent" law does. The Hungarian law provides for harsh penalties for parties accepting foreign money for election campaigns and creates a Sovereignty Protection Office with broad investigative powers. It is to take place February 1. To read the original story by RFE/RL’s Hungarian Service, click here.