Kobakhidze Attends Budapest Commemorations as Hungary Resets Relations With EU
By Messenger Staff
Monday, October 26, 2026
Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze attended events in Budapest on October 23 marking the 70th anniversary of Hungary's 1956 anti-Soviet uprising, joining European leaders at an event that also highlighted Hungary's changing political and diplomatic direction.
The visit was Kobakhidze's first to the Hungarian capital since Viktor Orbán, a close ally of Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party, lost the April elections to Péter Magyar's Tisza Party.
According to the Georgian government administration, Kobakhidze attended a gala concert and an official reception hosted by Magyar. Other guests included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Ukrainian Parliamentary Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk and former NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
However, the guest list was notable for the absence of several European national leaders. Euronews reported that French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not attend. Around 40 countries sent delegations, although many were represented by ministers or parliamentary speakers rather than heads of government. The report cited late invitations and diplomatic disagreements among the factors behind the limited attendance.
The anniversary commemorates Hungary's 1956 revolt against Soviet domination. The uprising was crushed by Soviet troops, leaving thousands dead and prompting approximately 200,000 Hungarians to flee the country.
This year's commemoration also took place against the backdrop of Hungary's political transition. Magyar has sought to rebuild relations with the European Union after Orbán's 16 years in power. His government has introduced reforms that helped unlock Euro 16.4 billion in previously frozen EU funds, according to reporting by the Associated Press.
Orbán's Hungary had been one of Georgian Dream's closest European partners as relations between Tbilisi and Western governments deteriorated. Budapest repeatedly opposed stronger EU measures against Georgia, including potential sanctions, and hosted Georgian Dream officials at events such as the Conservative Political Action Conference, which attracts conservative and far-right political figures.
Magyar has pledged to maintain "good relations" with Georgia, but Kobakhidze's visit comes amid continued European concerns over the Georgian government's democratic record. The commemoration coincided with the start of Constitutional Court proceedings on Georgian Dream's request to ban five opposition parties, a move that has drawn criticism from European officials.
The Budapest gathering thus brought together leaders at a time of significant political change in Hungary, while Georgia's relationship with the EU remains strained over concerns about democracy, political pluralism and the country's direction.
