Eight U.S. senators have sent a letter to the United States Ambassador to Hungary, David Cornstein, calling on him to uphold American democratic values and security interests when dealing with the "autocratic government of Victor Orban."
The signatories express "considerable concern" that Hungary proposed moving Russia’s International Investment Bank from Moscow to Budapest. As RFE/RL moves toward restarting service in Hungary, they also seek assurances that "firewall" legislation ensuring objective and independent reporting by RFE/RL and the U.S. Agency for Global Media's other networks be respected.
Signatories of the letter were U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), along with U.S. Representatives Eliot L. Engel (D-NY) and Tom Malinowski (D-NJ). U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) also signed.
The U.S. Congress approved notification last week of RFE/RL's possible return to Hungary.
A full text of the letter is here.