Hungarian politician fined for mocking Holocaust

BUDAPEST - A Hungarian appeals court has confirmed a fine of 750,000 forints ($2,700) given to a politician from the far-right Jobbik party for making jokes about the Holocaust in public.

Tibor Agoston, a municipal councilor in the eastern city of Debrecen, gave a speech during a January 2014 commemoration of Hungarian soldiers killed in World War II in which he used mocking expressions about the Holocaust. He also implied the Holocaust was a lie.

In his defense, Agoston said he had used "unfortunate wording."

The court in Debrecen said Wednesday in its ruling that Agoston can pay the fine in 15 installments.

The public denial, downplaying or justification of the Holocaust or of the crimes committed by Hungary's communist regime can be punished by up to three years in prison.