The award ceremony was held at the Presidential Palace in Budapest, where the Greek athlete received the medal from the President of Hungary.

Critics say the restrictions are politically motivated, especially as Hungary gears up for a national election in 2026, where Orban faces a potentially strong challenger after 15 years in power

Hungary has taken a hardline stance against gender and sexual identity expression, including a 2024 law that bans public gatherings perceived to “promote” LGBTQI+ identities. The Pride ban is a direct result of that legislation

The move aligns with right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s stance against the court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense chief over alleged war crimes in Gaza

Zelenskiy criticized Orban’s initiative, viewing it as undermining Western solidarity. Ukraine has consistently opposed peace proposals that do not include full restoration of its territorial integrity and has rejected any ceasefire that could allow Russia to regroup.

As the years go by, Orbán's metamorphosis becomes ever more complete. But this is not an unexpected development.