Press release from Freedom House:

In reaction to the law on foreign-funded organizations adopted in the Hungarian parliament today, Freedom House issued the following statement:

“The Hungarian government has adopted a law that has no place in a democratic society,” said Marc Behrendt, director of Eurasia programs. “Its goal is to stigmatize civil society organizations that are critical of the government, and to stifle any dissent. With the government increasingly targeting independent institutions in academia, the media, and civil society, the European Union must recognize the gravity of the situation and initiate Article 7 proceedings against Hungary due to the clear and present risk to EU values. The EU reaction to this legislation is especially urgent given the prospect of other European countries adopting versions of a ‘foreign agents’ law.”

Hungary is rated Free in Freedom in the World 2017, Partly Free in Freedom of the Press 2017, Free in Freedom on the Net 2016, and receives a democracy score of 3.54, on a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 as the worst possible score, in Nations in Transit 2017.

Freedom House is an independent watchdog organization that supports democratic change, monitors the status of freedom around the world, and advocates for democracy and human rights.

“Even though I’d braced myself for the news, today’s result still sent a jolt through me like electricity,” Julia Ivan , director of Amnesty International Hungary told me today. “Hard won freedoms will be lost and the vital work done by NGOs to create a freer and fairer society will be seriously hampered by Orban’s bullying…