From jazz to folk and gypsy to bossa nova, the Day of Hungarian Song has been celebrating the diversity of the nation’s musical styles since 2008. Once an outcrop of the Budapest-based Sziget festival, the event now takes countrywide proportions, with concerts in Szombathely (this year’s Capital of Hungarian Song), Baja, Eger, Salgótarján, Zsira,  Hévíz,… Continue »

Hungary’s government was again in diplomatic hot water this week following the transfer last Friday of convicted murderer Ramil Sahib Safarov home to Azerbaijan. Upon arrival in Baku, the soldier was pardoned by Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, promised eight years’ back pay, promoted to major and feted as a national hero. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s… Continue »

Armenia was first to react to the Hungarian handover of convicted murderer Ramil Sahib Safarov to Azerbaijan, promptly severing diplomatic relations with Hungary last Friday, with President Serzh Sargsyan describing the move by the Orbán government as “unforgivable” and a “grave mistake”. Concerned, disturbed US President Barack Obama was said to be “deeply concerned” by… Continue »

“The Hungarian government helped to free a murderer,” Socialist Party (MSZP) president Attila Mesterházy wrote in a statement posted on his party’s website on Sunday. The following day Mesterházy told reporters that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had “sold Hungary’s honour” and brought shame on the country. Transfer previously refused He presented a list of 12… Continue »

With the Ramil Safarov affair, the Orient Express of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s determined “eastern opening” has seemingly derailed. This is not the first time – and in fact derailment may not be the case. But it is certainly a rollercoaster ride and the destination is anything but sure or well defined. The morals of… Continue »

Five thousand wines representing 220 wineries and 15 countries await visitors on 12-16 September in the Buda Castle. We are heading out on Wednesday night to put vintners to the test. Look for a report in next Friday’s paper. The ticket Sept 12-13 (Wed-Thu): 2pm-11pm Sept 14 (Fri): 12am-11pm Sept 15-16 (Sat-Sun): 10am-11pm One-day pass:… Continue »

As a location it “can easily be overlooked, unless one is really keen to look through the windows of the gyros and cheap mobile-phone outlets that line this part of Király utca”. That was last November, when The Budapest Times visited the premises of a now-defunct Hungarian restaurant at number 53 of District VII’s Király… Continue »