Interpreter mistake alters Putin remarks during Hungarian-Russian talks

A translation error during a meeting between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow has drawn attention from journalists and political analysts, raising concerns about the accuracy of diplomatic interpretation at high-level talks.

The meeting, held on November 28, marked the fourth encounter between the two leaders since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine. During the public broadcast of the discussions, the Hungarian interpreter reportedly failed to fully convey a key sentence from Putin’s speech, Caliber.Az reports via RMF24.

According to reports from 444.hu, Putin stated: “Our views on some issues, including international ones, do not necessarily coincide…” However, the Hungarian translation provided to Orbán rendered the sentence as: “Our cooperation is also going well in the international arena…” The discrepancy altered the intended meaning of Putin’s statement, leading to immediate scrutiny.

Journalists and experts quickly noted the inconsistency. Gergely Nyilas, a Russian speaker and journalist for telex.hu, highlighted the differences between the original Russian remarks and the Hungarian translation. Following the broadcast, Hungarian officials were pressed to explain the apparent mistake.

Tamás Menczer, communications director for Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party, defended the interpreter, describing her as one of the country’s most experienced specialists. He suggested that she may have missed part of Putin’s statement and noted that anyone can have an “off day” or encounter challenging circumstances.

Experts emphasise that interpreters play a critical role in diplomacy, not only translating words but also accurately conveying the intentions and nuance of speakers. Errors in translation, they warn, can lead to misunderstandings with significant political consequences.

By Sabina Mammadli