Budapest police open fraud probe into Turkish cultural institute's local branch

The Budapest Metropolitan Police launched a fraud investigation after a Hungarian literary expert alleged that the Yunus Emre Institute’s Budapest branch recorded him as a full-time employee despite his lack of knowledge or compensation. He was presented with paperwork by three officials from Ankara, which he contested, prompting him to lodge a formal complaint. Police records indicate that several Hungarians were similarly listed as paid staff without their approval.

The probe is ongoing, with no suspects yet questioned, and investigators suggest it may reveal broader financial misconduct across the institute’s global operations. The Yunus Emre Institute, founded in 2007 as a state-funded cultural outreach program by Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, operates dozens of centers worldwide. Recent scrutiny also includes investigations in Germany, Poland, Iraq and Lebanon.