Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony charged for organising a banned Pride event, with prosecutors seeking a fine after a record 200,000 attended the rally.
BUDAPEST: Prosecutors have filed charges against Budapest’s opposition mayor Gergely Karacsony.
They are seeking a fine for his role in organising the city’s banned Pride parade last June.
The event attracted a record estimated turnout of more than 200,000 people.
This was seen as a rebuke to Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s years-long clampdown on LGBTQ rights.
Orban’s ruling coalition had codified provisions into law designed to prohibit the annual parade.
Budapest city hall stepped in to co-organise the event to try to sidestep the new regulations.
Police still issued a ban on the gathering, with Orban warning of “legal consequences”.
The district prosecutor’s office has now proposed the court impose a fine in a summary judgement without a trial.
Karacsony reacted to the charges on Facebook, stating he had gone from a “proud suspect to a proud defendant”.
He accused authorities of avoiding a trial because they cannot comprehend the city’s stand for freedom.
The mayor was interrogated in August and could have faced up to one year in prison.
Participants could have been fined up to 500 euros, but police announced in July they would not take action against attendees.
