Interpreter’s Dramatic Rewriting of Putin‘s Remarks Raisesโข Eyebrows at Orbรกn-Putin Summit
MOSCOW – Concerns are mountingโฃ over the accuracy of translation at a recent summit between Russian President vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime minister โฃViktor Orbรกn,with reports indicating the interpreter substantially altered Putin’s statements during their meeting. The discrepancies, detailed by Czech news outlet Novinky.cz,โค suggest a deliberate effort to present a more favorable narrative to Orbรกn.
During โขthe meeting, Putin stated, “I knowโ that in your work you have the interests of Hungary and the Hungarian โขpeople in mind first and foremost.” the interpreter relayed this to Orbรกnโ as, “I hope thatโข now we will discuss other possibilities โคof โcooperation and move on.”
When Putin acknowledged differingโค viewpoints, โคsaying, “Our views on certain things, including international โฃones, do not necessarily coincide,” the interpreter โขreportedly told Orbรกn, “Our cooperation also works well at the international level.”โ Further, Putin’s comment that “there are questions and โproblems that we need to discuss” was translated as “so we can continue to develop our economy.”
Perhaps โmost striking, putin’s remark that he was familiar with Orbรกn’s “balanced position on the issue surrounding Ukraine” was rendered by the interpreter as, “And I know that international โฃpolitics naturally affects you.”
Putin also noted a 23 โpercent decrease in mutual trade โwith Hungary, attributing itโ to external factors. The interpreter softened this, stating, “last year also brought changes, it wasn’t easy for us either.”
Orbรกn, considered a key Putin ally withinโ the European Union, continues toโฃ pursue Russian energy suppliesโ despite EU efforts to curtail them.The timing ofโค the summit and theโค altered translations coincide โฃwith upcoming parliamentary elections in Hungary, leading to speculation that Orbรกn is attempting to leverage the relationship for economic benefits and political gain, โincluding perhaps hosting a Russian-American summit in Budapest.