Ilaria Salis is finally free. The Hungarian police left their home in Budapest, removing the electronic bracelet that had been imposed on thethe Italian teacher arrested in Hungary in February 2023, accused of attacking neo-Nazis during a far-right demonstration in Budapest, as a precautionary measure. The news was learned by the Ansa press agency on the morning of Friday 14 June.
There request for release had been presented by his Hungarian lawyer, Gyorgy Magyar, immediately after the election of Salis to the European Parliament with the Greens and Left Alliance. Finally, after a long period of house arrest, Salis was released, ready to return to Italy. The Hungarian police arrived unexpectedly at the apartment where Salis had been hosted by an Italian family since May 23, removing the electronic bracelet and giving her a document in Hungarian.
Salis will probably return to Italy by Monday 17 June, just in time for his 40th birthday. Her family had already purchased tickets to join her in Budapest and celebrate together, but now they will be able to celebrate the important milestone directly in Italy. The Avs MEP was arrested on 11 February 2023 on charges of having participated in two attacks against three far-right militants in Budapest. After more than 15 months in prison, she was granted the precautionary measure of house arrest.
The election in Brussels with Avs, obtained thanks to over 175 thousand preferences, had placed Salis waiting for the official proclamation and the necessary documentation to certify his new status as a European parliamentarian. Now she, freed from the restrictions, can return to Italy to begin her mandate. Salis’ family had planned to join her in Budapest to celebrate her 40th birthday, but thanks to her release, they will be able to celebrate together in Italy. Salis’ story has attracted international attention, and her return marks the end of a difficult chapter and the beginning of a new phase in her life and political career.
The reactions
AtHandle the father, Roberto Salis, who has fought for his daughter’s release in recent months, said: “Let’s celebrate of her birthday at home, I’ll go get her and take her home. I’m very happy and I’m trying to organize my return as quickly as possible. I worked quietly but we didn’t expect her to be released today. And instead she called me the lawyer Magyar to tell me that the police were on their way to free her. And now I’m going to get it“.
Angelo Bonelli and Nicola Fratoianni, the two leaders of Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra, the party that nominated Salis for the European elections, commented on the release of the activist from Brianza as follows: “Finally! We are happy with the news that comes from Budapest, MEP Ilaria Salis can now return to Italy and will be able to carry out her her new function to which hundreds of thousands of voters have indicated her. Our thanks go to everyone and all those who, like us, have been outraged in recent months and have not resigned themselves to the terrible condition in which she was held in Orban’s prisons. Now he will be able to defend the civil and social rights of the weakest together with us. We are waiting for you“.
