An Estonian diplomat participated in a “lockdown party” — described by Belgian media as an orgy — that was broken up by police on Friday evening, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The party — at which police found 25 naked men, according to Belgian media — attracted widespread attention because three of the participants invoked diplomatic immunity, one of whom was an MEP who tried to flee along a rainwater gutter but was stopped by police. Prosecutors said the lawmaker had narcotics in his backpack.
On Tuesday, József Szájer, a senior MEP from Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party, confirmed that he had participated in the party. Szájer had suddenly announced on Sunday that he would resign as an MEP, without mentioning the party.
After news of his involvement emerged, Szájer faced accusations of hypocrisy as Fidesz has cracked down on LGBTQI rights in Hungary in recent years.
An Estonian spokesperson said Wednesday: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware that an Estonian diplomat participated in that party. The diplomat apologizes for his violations of COVID restrictions.”
Belgium announced a second lockdown last month, with a curfew in place and a ban on gatherings of more than two people inside and four people outside. The public prosecutor’s office said police had been “alerted by neighbors who complained about noise and potential breaches of measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The organizer of the party, identified by Belgian site Het Laatste Nieuws as PhD student David Manzheley, told the news outlet: “Suddenly my living room was full of cops. Identity card! Now! But we weren’t even wearing underpants, how could we then quickly conjure up our identity card?”
He added: “At my parties, I always invite a few friends, who in turn bring some friends, and then we make it fun together. We talk a bit, we drink — just like in a cafe. The only difference is that in the meantime we also have sex with each other. I don’t see what’s wrong with that. We’re all grown men among each other, everything happens by mutual consent.”