[JURIST] Hungary must end its crackdown of local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Amnesty International (AI) [advocacy website] urged [press release] in a new report [text, PDF] Monday. The report claims that the Hungarian government has engaged in “public smearing, criminal investigations, office raids and the seizure of equipment, and a politically motivated audit which could eventually lead to the closure of organizations.” The government has reportedly brought action against the organizations that could result in the loss of tax registration numbers and closure of local offices. The report also highlights the similarities between the actions of the Hungarian and Russian governments in adopting a hard line stance against foreign-funded organizations. The release of the report coincides with a visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel [BBC profile], whom AI implored to contest such actions by an EU member state.

In 2013 the Hungarian government enacted constitutional amendments [JURIST report] after receiving criticism over its 2012 amendments. The amendments contained new rules on the recognition of religious groups, as well as modifications to the bans on political advertisements on commercial television and radio stations. The changes allowed political campaign advertisements on commercial TV and radio, but broadcasters would not be allowed to charge for them. Political parties were also be given equal air time. The Hungarian Justice Minister stated that the amendments were proposed as the result of pressure due to the harsh criticism Hungary received. Human rights groups, such as Human Rights Watch [advocacy website] criticized [JURIST report] the changes as “largely cosmetic.”