Freedom prevails: prosecution drops charges against organisers of Budapest and Pécs Pride marches

Since the adoption of severe and discriminatory amendments to Hungary’s Fundamental Law and Assembly Act in 2025, Amnesty International Hungary, Háttér Society, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee and the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (TASZ) have been working together to restore and protect the right to freedom of assembly.

We welcome the fact that the courage of Pride organizers and the support of hundreds of thousands of participants have led to a situation in which, on the 4th of June, the prosecution decided to drop the charges brought against Pride organisers which violate EU law and fundamental rights. At the same time, it remains the responsibility of the newly elected Parliament to amend the Assembly Act and repeal the severely restrictive provisions of the Fundamental Law.

In March 2025, the Hungarian Parliament adopted legislative amendments that triggered widespread public opposition and resistance. These measures were aimed at banning demonstrations calling for equal rights for sexual and gender minorities, including Pride marches in Budapest and Pécs. Following the former prime minister’s infamous statement in February 2025, human rights organisations immediately offered support to Pride organisers and began working together to ensure that the right to freedom of assembly could be effectively exercised.

Through organising assemblies and challenging unlawful administrative decisions that banned these assemblies, the four human rights NGOs succeeded in bringing the decisions of the Police and the judgements issued by Kúria (the Supreme Court of Hungary) upholding them to the European Court of Human Rights. In addition, they published joint guidance on the most important legal issues to help Pride participants understand how they could peacefully exercise their right to assembly despite the restrictive circumstances. Lawyers from these organisations trained Pride organisers and volunteers, recruited and prepared legal observers who were ready to provide assistance to organisers and participants during both marches if necessary.

From the very beginning, Géza Buzás-Hábel, the organiser of Pécs Pride, made it clear that he intended to hold the event as a public assembly despite the ban. The four human rights NGOs have supported him since the march was first announced, and provided legal defence in the criminal procedure initiated against him. His courage, determination and principled commitment have set an example for everyone who values freedom.

The prosecution’s decision to drop the charges confirms the efforts and perseverance of all those who believed that freedom of assembly is a fundamental right and refused to allow the previous government’s arbitrary actions to deprive people of that right. The fact that Budapest Pride—and hopefully Pécs Pride as well—can now take place freely is a common success for everyone who believes in freedom in Hungary and across Europe. We are proud to have contributed to this achievement.

At the same time, while the prosecution’s decision to drop the charges against Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony and Géza Buzás-Hábel is highly significant, it does not mark the end of a period characterised by systemic violations of human rights. The Assembly Act must be amended. Its discriminatory provisions that violate EU law must be repealed, and the restrictions introduced by the previous government specifically to discourage participation in Pride events must be removed.

Broader constitutional reforms are also necessary to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people can genuinely enjoy equal rights in Hungary. An important first step would be the immediate implementation of the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union concerning Hungary’s anti-LGBTQI propaganda law passed in 2021.

Human rights organisations will continue to work toward these goals, just as they have done until now.

We cannot wait to attend the 31st Budapest Pride march on 27 June and the 6th Pécs Pride march on 12 September. See you there!