Maja T. has been in custody in Hungary for over two years, and a hearing for their appeal is set to begin in Budapest. After the proceedings conclude, it’s possible that Maja T. could be returned to Germany.
The appeal hearing for Maja T. is scheduled to take place over two days: September 18 and September 30. The Fövàrosi Itélötábla will review the case. The city court had previously sentenced Maja T. to eight years in prison, finding them guilty of participating in violent attacks as a member of a criminal organization.
According to Maja T.’s German lawyer, Sven Richwin, the appeal process in Hungary is similar to a revision procedure in Germany. While the initial trial was presided over by a single judge, the appeal will be heard by a panel of three judges. In Budapest, Maja T. will be represented by Hungarian lawyer Dr. Tamás Bajáky.
The two other defendants, German Anna M. and Italian Gabriele M., have also filed appeals, which will be heard jointly with Maja T.’s case. Anna M. was sentenced to two years of probation for membership in a criminal organization, while Gabriele M. received a seven-year prison sentence. The Hungarian prosecution has also filed an appeal.
Appeal Hearing and Possible Outcomes
According to Richwin, the court has received the written justifications for the appeals, which will be read out during the hearings. No new evidence will be presented, and no witnesses will be questioned. However, it’s possible that a short video clip, previously part of the defense’s argument, may be shown.
The court’s decision is expected on September 30. Richwin believes that the main points of contention will be the evaluation of evidence and the classification of the defendants as a criminal organization. The limited defense rights, including Maja T.’s incomplete translation of the case files and their visible weakness during the trial due to a hunger strike, may also play a role.
The outcome of the appeal is uncertain, and the court may confirm the previous verdict, modify the sentence, or even send the case back to the first instance due to procedural errors. Richwin stated that the focus of the defense is on changing the sentence, but if the case is sent back, it would delay Maja T.’s potential return to Germany.
A return to Germany is only possible after the conclusion of the appeal process, which may happen with a decision on September 30. The Landgericht Gera would then be responsible for handling the request, as it is the court of last residence for Maja T. in Germany.
After exhausting all legal avenues in Hungary, it would also be possible to file a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights.
Background and Cases
Maja T.’s case gained attention due to their unlawful extradition to Hungary in June 2024, which was later deemed unconstitutional by the German Federal Constitutional Court. Despite this, the trial in Budapest proceeded, and Maja T. has been in custody since June 28, 2024.
Maja T. had gone on a hunger strike in Budapest to draw attention to the poor prison conditions. The German government had ensured that any prison sentence could be served in Germany after the conclusion of the trial in Hungary.
Other individuals, including Tobias E., Anna M., and Illaria S., are also facing charges in Hungary and Germany related to the same case. Tobias E. had accepted a deal in January 2024 and was subsequently sentenced and extradited to Germany, where he is currently in custody.
The case against Illaria S. was suspended after she was elected to the European Parliament in 2024 and gained immunity. Hungary had attempted to lift her immunity but was unsuccessful.
Anna M. is currently in Berlin, exempt from detention, according to information from LTO. The trial against seven individuals, including Henry A., is ongoing at the OLG Dresden, with the prosecution focusing on alleged crimes committed in Budapest and other locations in Germany.
In September 2025, the first verdict in the Budapest complex was handed down in Munich, with Hanna S. receiving a five-year prison sentence.
Zaid A., a Syrian national, had surrendered to authorities and is currently in France, where a decision on his extradition to Hungary is expected on September 16.
According to § 50 of the law regarding international legal assistance in criminal matters, the Landgericht Gera will be responsible for the process that determines whether the Hungarian sentence can be enforced in Germany. This process will only begin after the appeal process in Hungary has been completed, and a final decision has been made.
