Systemic failures persist in tackling police ill-treatment in Hungary

On 21 January 2026, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee (HHC) submitted a new Rule 9(2) communication to the Committee of Ministers concerning the execution of the European Court of Human Rights’ judgments in the Gubacsi v. Hungary group of cases. The submission demonstrates that Hungary has still failed to take the necessary measures to prevent police ill-treatment and to ensure effective accountability.

The communication shows that, despite long-standing supervision by the Council of Europe, Hungary has failed to introduce any meaningful legislative or policy reforms to address the systemic problems surrounding police ill-treatment. Neither the legal framework nor the authorities’ own statistical data show any tangible progress in preventing abuse, ensuring effective investigations, or imposing sanctions capable of ending impunity. As a result, the structural deficiencies identified by the European Court of Human Rights more than a decade ago continue to undermine accountability and deny victims effective access to justice.

Key problems identified: 

• Lack of zero tolerance and prevention: The Government has not demonstrated a clear and consistent commitment to zero tolerance for police ill-treatment, and there is still no comprehensive strategy or targeted training aimed at preventing ill-treatment.

• Deficient video recording of police work: Serious legal and practical shortcomings remain in the use of video recording during police operations, leaving many interactions with detainees unrecorded or poorly documented.

• Inadequate training and working methods: Law-enforcement bodies continue to lack proper training, lawful interrogation techniques and reliable systems for assessing police performance in line with human rights standards.

• Lack of independent medical examinations: Detainees who allege ill-treatment are still not guaranteed independent and effective medical examinations capable of properly documenting injuries.

• Ineffective investigations: Investigations into allegations of ill-treatment suffer from major substantive flaws, and only a very small proportion of cases result in indictments.

• Judicial leniency: Courts continue to impose unduly lenient sentences on law-enforcement officers found guilty of ill-treatment, undermining deterrence and accountability.

• Convicted officers allowed to remain in service: Law-enforcement officers convicted of abuse often remain eligible to continue serving, reinforcing a climate of impunity.

• Failure to reopen cases and time-bar limitations: Investigations are not systematically reopened after findings of violations by the European Court of Human Rights, and limitation periods are not extended to allow effective accountability.

• Barriers to compensation: Victims continue to face serious difficulties in obtaining compensation for the harm they suffered.

• Weak oversight of police detention: There is no effective system for monitoring police detention and the procedural safeguards designed to prevent torture and ill-treatment remain inadequate.

Because of the persistent lack of progress on these core issues, the HHC has called on the Committee of Ministers to consider adopting an interim resolution to urge the Hungarian authorities to finally bring their law and practice into line with the European Convention on Human Rights.

The full text of the HHC’s Rule 9(2) communication is available here.