The Open Society Foundations are closely watching developments around the draft legislation that would dramatically restrict the activities of civil society in Hungary. We are considering various options, as the security of our staff in Budapest and the integrity of our work is of paramount importance.
With the Open Society Foundations’ 30-year legacy of helping Hungarians and encouraging human rights and critical thinking, we are committed to continuing our work in this country. Our founder, George Soros, helped foster democratic values in Hungary, starting with supporting freedom of expression and cultural activities during the transition from communism in the 1980s. He was the first to respond to the red sludge catastrophe in 2010, providing $1 million in humanitarian assistance. Most recently, we have supported the most vulnerable communities in rural areas, including Pécs and Debrecen.