Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi

Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi (born 5 May 1973) is Hungarian politician and retired lieutenant general currently serving as Minister of Defence of Hungary since 2026. He previously served as the Chief of General Staff from 1 June 2021 to 27 April 2023, when President Katalin Novák dismissed him from his position. According to the president, Ruszin-Szendi "fulfilled his duties with his best knowledge".

From February 2025, he is the leading military expert of the Tisza Party.

Early life and career

Ruszin-Szendi went to János Lenkey Cadet College at the István Dobó Middle School in Eger. After finishing middle school, he went to Lajos Kossuth Military College in Szentendre and received his degree and commission as an artillery officer in 1995. As a field officer, he was appointed to the Miklós Zrínyi National Defense University's Military Leader Course. In 2006, Ruszin-Szendi attended the Hungarian Special Forces Qualification Course, and a year later, the Hungarian Special Forces Staff Course. In 2009, he graduated from the Joint Special Operations University (USA), Combating Terrorism Course, and the Special Forces Advance Urban Operation Course in Germany with the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He received his PhD degree at the Miklós Zrínyi National Defense University. In 2011 he attended the Joint Special Operations University (USA), Advance Combating Terrorism Course. In 2014 he received his master's degree of Strategic Studies at the United States Army War College.

Tisza Party

Ruszin-Szendi first appeared at the Tisza Party's inaugural congress on 15 February 2025, although the press had already revealed days earlier that he would be joining the Tisza Party. To this, Ruszin-Szendi responded: "I can neither confirm nor deny it." In his speech at the congress, he criticized the Orbán government's defense policy.

Controversy In September 2025, right-wing media outlet Mandiner published photos of him carrying a firearm concealed in a holster during a public event. After the initial denial and mocking coming from the independent media, which accused Mandiner of spreading fake news, Ruszin-Szendi and Péter Magyar admitted that he indeed had carried a pistol. This, and Ruszin-Szendi's previous statement, according to which "I am trained for that and I could do it" sparked public outrage, because it was the first time in contemporary Hungarian politics that a politician showed up with a gun at a public event. Moreover, carrying firearms in manifestation, protest, rally, gathering is forbidden by the Hungarian law even though Ruszin-Szendi then had a license to own a gun. On the 17 September, the Hungarian Police confiscated Ruszin-Szendi's gun, revoked his license, and started an investigation. Since then, more pictures surfaced, showing him with his pistol. On 27 September, the minister of defencereferring to dishonor as a reasonended the reserve personnel contract with him and forbade him from using his former military rank.

International missions 2007 - 2008 - Military Advisor and Liaison Team (MALT) Commander, Iraq, Baghdad 2011 - 2012 - Commander of HUN PRT, Afghanistan

Career

1995 - Target acquisition sound battery, platoon commander, HDF 5th "Csobánc" MLRS Artillery Regiment 1996 - Staff battery, artillery observer training officer, HDF 5th "Csobánc" MLRS Artillery Regiment 1997 - 3rd MLRS battery, first platoon commander (deputy battery commander), HDF 101st "Szigetvári" Zrínyi Miklós Mixed Artillery Brigade 1997 - MLRS battalion, training officer, HDF 101st "Szigetvári" Zrínyi Miklós Mixed Artillery Brigade 1998 - MLRS battalion, chief of staff, HDF 101st "Szigetvári" Zrínyi Miklós Mixed Artillery Brigade 1999 - MLRS battalion, deputy commander, HDF 101st "Szigetvári" Zrínyi Miklós Mixed Artillery Brigade 2003 - G-3 operations, senior officer at the doctrinal section, Land Forces Component Command 2004 - Chief of plans, HDF 25th Klapka György Light Infantry Brigade 2005 - Acting head of G-3, HDF 25th Klapka György Light Infantry Brigade 2006 - Chief of staff, HDF 34th Bercsényi László Special Forces Battalion 2008 - Commander (acting), HDF 34th Bercsényi László Special Forces Battalion 2008 - Deputy Commander, HDF 34th Bercsényi László Special Forces Battalion 2009 - Battalion Commander, HDF 25/88th Light Infantry (Airmobile) 2014 - General Staff, J-3, Head of Land Forces, Hungarian Defense Forces Department 2015 - Acting Chief of J-3, Hungarian Defense Forces, General Staff 2016 - Commander, HDF 5th Bocskai István Infantry Brigade, Debrecen 2019 - Reserve Command, Hungarian Defense Forces 2019 - Head of Office Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Defense, 2020 - Undersecretary of the Department of Human Resources Management, Ministry of Defense 2021 - Commander of the Hungarian Defence Forces 2022 - Chief of General Staff, Hungarian Defence Forces

Promotions 1995 - 1st Lieutenant 1998 - Captain 2003 - Major 2007 - Lieutenant Colonel 2010 - Colonel 2016 - Brigadier General 2021 - Major General 2021 - Lieutenant General

Awards and decorations