'Salis attacked peaceful demonstrators' says Orban

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 9 - Hungarian Premier Viktor Orban on Wednesday attacked an Italian MEP who was released from detention in Hungary after she was elected as a member of the European Parliament in June, saying she "hit peaceful people in Budapest", addressing the European Parliament.
    Orban also said Greens MEP Daniel Freund was "corrupt, because he is paid by (George) Soros", referring to the billionaire philanthropist whom he has long accused of allegedly controlling Hungary's opposition and plotting against the country's interests.
    "I think it is absurd that here we must all listen together to Ilaria Salis who hit with iron bars peaceful demonstrators in Budapest.
    "She talks about the rule of law? "The debate has gone beyond common sense, I've only heard accusations, the outcome of your well-known propaganda.
    "If you didn't read reports financed by Soros, rather than other independent data, you would see that Hungary doesn't fare worse than others in terms of corruption", said Orban.
    Salis was released after being elected as a new member of the European Parliament for the Italian Green and Left Alliance in June.
    The 39-year-old activist was elected during her time under house arrest in Hungary, where she is on trial and faces charges for allegedly assaulting far-right demonstrators.
    Speaking at the European Parliament earlier on Wednesday, Salis said "Europe must be robust and needs to refuse to cooperate with Orban's oppressive regime".
    And addressing Orban, the European lawmaker said she knew Hungary from "its most obscure place: prison".
    Salis recalled she had remained in pre-trial detention for 15 months prior to her election and "I am here today only thanks to the solidarity of thousands of anti-Fascist citizens".
    "Under Viktor Orban, Hungary has become an illiberal and oligarchic regime, an authoritarian ethnic state that some even define as a modern tyranny", Salis said. (ANSA).