Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze will visit Budapest at the invitation of Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar to attend events marking the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.
The invitation has drawn criticism from former Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, who accused Georgia’s ruling authorities of turning away from the EU and supporting Russia’s growing influence in the country.
The invitation comes against the backdrop of close ties between Georgian Dream and former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Orbán visited Tbilisi in October 2024, days after Georgia’s disputed parliamentary elections, and publicly backed Georgian Dream’s victory despite criticism from international observers. His government also opposed EU measures against Georgian officials amid a crackdown on pro-EU protests. Relations between Tbilisi and Brussels deteriorated further after Georgian Dream announced it would not pursue EU accession talks until 2028.
After Magyar’s victory against Orbán in the Hungarian parliamentary elections earlier in 2026, there was widespread speculation about how the new government would pursue relations with Georgia. Since then, ties have remained largely neutral, but the invitation of Kobakhidze indicates Georgian Dream’s ties with Orbán does not preclude the possibility of future friendly relations.
The main commemorative event will take place in a central square in Budapest on Friday, where Magyar is scheduled to address attendees.
In his invitation letter to Kobakhidze, Magyar described the 1956 uprising as part of the struggle that eventually led to Central Europe regaining its freedom in 1989.
‘The freedom that Central Europe finally regained in 1989 did not begin in 1989. Part of its history was written 33 years earlier, in the streets of Budapest’, Magyar wrote.
According to Georgia’s Government Administration, he added that it would be an honour to welcome Kobakhidze to the event, which will pay tribute to those whose courage continues to inspire Europe’s shared future.
In a post on X, Zourabichvili criticised Kobakhidze’s invitation to the commemorations.
‘The Prime Minister of the government that has turned Georgia’s back to the EU, developed an aggressive anti-EU campaign and supports occupant Russia’s regained influence in Georgia, is invited to celebrate the 1956 Budapest uprising against Soviet rule ??? Really!!!’, she wrote, tagging Magyar.
The Hungarian Revolution began on 23 October 1956 as a demonstration against the country’s Soviet-backed government and Soviet domination. The revolt was crushed by Soviet forces in November, with thousands killed and many more fleeing the country.