Abstract This essay illustrates, through certain measures taken by the Hungarian government during the COVID19-epidemic, how the very nature of illiberal regimes determines their ways of dealing with national crises. How at times that call for unity, they opt for increasing polarization; how instead of transparency, they choose to restrict freedom of expression; and how they use the crisis to further weaken checks and balances instead of reinforcing public trust in the government by strengthening oversight of the executive. The essay also argues that despite the undeniable difficulties such situations pose to human rights work, they also present a unique opportunity to—more effectively than before—re-explain and re-present human rights as a matter of importance to all members of society—majority and minority alike. The experience that in crisis situations belonging to the mainstream may not protect one from becoming vulnerable and exposed to abuses by those in power, may enable rule of law and human rights advocates to better convey the message that the accountability of the executive branch is crucial to a well-functioning democracy, while an illiberal regime does not provide sufficient protection against such instances of government overreach.

中文翻译：

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本质上——隐匿威权主义如何在大流行期间继续偷窃，如何阻止？

摘要 本文通过匈牙利政府在 COVID19 流行期间采取的某些措施说明了非自由政权的本质如何决定了他们应对国家危机的方式。在需要团结的时候，他们如何选择增加两极分化；他们如何选择限制言论自由而不是透明度；以及他们如何利用危机进一步削弱制衡，而不是通过加强对行政部门的监督来增强公众对政府的信任。这篇文章还认为，尽管这种情况给人权工作带来了不可否认的困难，但它们也提供了一个独特的机会——比以前更有效地——重新解释和重新呈现人权作为对所有社会成员都重要的问题——多数和少数都一样。