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Whistleblowing
in Hungary

Whistleblowers and other reporters,
those we are proud of

Stories of people who spoke up, faced consequences, and helped the public understand what was at stake.

EXPLORE STORIES
Andras Horvath

The Andras Horvath case: Tax inspector against the $4.5 billion carousel fraud

Andras Horvath had been working as a tax inspector for 11 years when he realized that something wasn’t right. Some big companies in Hungary were stealing millions from the tax authorities through a complex scheme known as the carousel fraud that cost the budget $4.5 billion per year.
Retaliation Suffered:Criminal Proceedings , Job Loss , Reputational Damage
Professional Background / Sector:Civil Servant
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Istvan G. Pinter

The Istvan G. Pinter Case: The head of EY Budapest was responsible for the disappearance of TI Hungary’s Second Report

Dr. Istvan G. Pinter wrote: disappearance of the Transparency International’s Second Report in 1999 represented the loss of a comprehensive anti-corruption reform program for Hungary.
Retaliation Suffered:Institutional Closure , Reputational Damage
Professional Background / Sector:Nonprofit
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Istvan G. Pinter

The Istvan G. Pinter Case: Did the successor to the dismissed compliance officer inform the Supervisory Board?

Dr. Istvan Pinter as the compliance officer issued warnings about integrity risks on several occasions throughout the year. A few weeks before he was due to submit his annual report to the Supervisory Board, he was dismissed.
Retaliation Suffered:Job Loss , Psychological Abuse or Harassment
Professional Background / Sector:Employee
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Istvan G. Pinter

The Istvan G. Pinter Case: The anti-money laundering report as a trap

Dr. Pinter, in his capacity as compliance officer, refused to comply with an unlawful directive from management to include false information in the annual money laundering report. Retaliation: dismissal, citing organizational restructuring.
Retaliation Suffered:Job Loss , Disciplinary Proceedings , Psychological Abuse or Harassment
Professional Background / Sector:Employee
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Istvan G. Pinter

The Istvan G. Pinter Case: An anti-corruption mission cut short

CEO appointed by Mayor Tarlos hired the anti-corruption expert with experience in corporate matters in Capital City to Budapest Security Office Nonprofit Ltd., which supervised the security at all municipal enterprises. A couple of months later the Budapest City Council unexpectedly dissolved the company.
Retaliation Suffered:Job Loss , Institutional Closure
Professional Background / Sector:Employee
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Istvan G. Pinter

The Istvan G. Pinter Case: The Military Prosecution

The on-duty military prosecutor received an unlawful verbal order not to record the complaints of opposition demonstrators who objected to police action on the national holiday. A year later, he was no longer a prosecutor.
Retaliation Suffered:Job Loss , Disciplinary Proceedings
Professional Background / Sector:Employee
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What this project is about

Hungarian whistleblower stories

This project creates a public record of Hungarian whistleblower cases. It brings together the facts, evidence, and personal experiences behind each disclosure, making these stories easier to find, understand, and preserve.

Lives destroyed

The consequences of speaking up rarely end when a case leaves the headlines. Whistleblowers may lose their careers, reputation, financial security, relationships, or health. We document not only the wrongdoing they exposed, but also the personal cost of telling the truth.

EXPLORE THE STORIES

Goal

To honor those individuals who, across the broadest segments of society, have spoken out against irregular, unethical, or unlawful actions and decisions. Their fate is often dismissal, legal persecution, or exclusion. We are proud of them. 

About whistleblowing

What is whistleblowing?

Whistleblowing means reporting or disclosing wrongdoing discovered within a professional or institutional context. It may involve corruption, fraud, abuse of power, serious misconduct, or risks to public safety and the public interest.

Why does it matter?

Whistleblowers bring hidden problems to light and help institutions and society respond. By speaking up, they may protect others and serve the public interest—often while facing retaliation, professional isolation, or serious personal consequences.

Learn more about whistleblowing

Black whistles of Hungary

Whistleblowers whose lives were destroyed. The shame is not yours – we are proud of you. Share your stories with us!

submit a story

Books That Have Never Been Quoted

A small number of self-published books describing whistleblower cases have been released. These are never cited in academic works, nor are they analyzed by organizations dedicated to combating corruption and other forms of misconduct. Let’s save them from the mists of oblivion.

Quote Them This Way

Support independent documentation

Documenting whistleblower cases requires careful research, fact-checking, and long-term commitment. Your contribution helps us preserve stories that might otherwise disappear from public memory.

Donations support editorial work, translation, website maintenance, and the continued development of a searchable public archive.

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