The Budapest Metropolitan Police Headquarters (BRFK) has taken legal action against a former police sergeant who spoke out in favour of the police force’s political independence! Let’s help Zsolt Laponyi through a crowdfunding campaign so that he doesn’t have to pay this ‘fine’ himself.

The former sergeant first came to public attention even before the change of government, when he asked the former state secretary not to use his portrait photograph – originally taken to promote police recruitment – on his Facebook page for party-political purposes. Bence Rétvári had included the name and website address of his party on the photograph of the police sergeant. He did not accept the sergeant’s public request – quite the contrary! In retaliation, internal proceedings were initiated against him; he was barred from all police-related activities and removed from the ‘Seriff’ programme. Following several months of pressure from the press and the public, as well as an internal police investigation, the State Secretary deleted the post, but the internal, organisation-wide discrimination against Zsolt Laponyi continued.

The sergeant ultimately decided to resign without notice, justifying his decision on several grounds and listing the specific situations that had made his position untenable and humiliating. Unfortunately, his superiors did not accept this, refused to listen to him, and brought an employment lawsuit against their colleague, who had lost his job in this way.

I stand by Zsolt Laponyi, who has always represented the police with honour and integrity. He did not deserve to be driven out in this way simply for standing up for the police force’s independence from party politics, nor to be subjected to further attacks even after his resignation. I stand in solidarity with every police officer who, true to their oath, has always served the people.

I ask that you, too, support Zsolt Laponyi and that, together, we take on the claim and the increased sum of money – resulting from the court proceedings – that the Budapest Metropolitan Police Headquarters (BRFK) is seeking to recover from him.

If the court decides that Zsolt Laponyi must pay this ‘fine’, then I ask that we help the sergeant, who has been left without a job, and pay it on his behalf together! I know this would be a huge help to him, as he has lost not only his job but also his livelihood.

When I told Zsolt that I wanted to set up a crowdfunding campaign for him, he said that he was counting on justice prevailing and that he would not have to pay the money to the Budapest Police Headquarters. He therefore asked that, if the court ruled in his favour, we should use the money raised to support a charity that helps the orphaned or half-orphaned children of his fallen police colleagues! In accordance with his request, I have contacted the foundation set up for this purpose, and we will support them if the court does indeed acquit Zsolt. (Any donations exceeding the target amount will be transferred directly to Zsolt as financial support.)

To be honest, this would be the best possible outcome, because in this way we would not only have stood by Zsolt Laponyi, but – at his request – we could also help the children and the families of the police officers!

Thank you!

László Szilágyi