Thousands of Hungarians march for media freedom after website muzzled

Deputy editor in chief Veronika Munk speaks next to employees of Hungary's main independent news website "Index" as they gather in the newsroom after they quit over the recent ousting of editor in chief Szabolcs Dull, in Budapest, Hungary, July 24, 2020. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Thousands of Hungarians marched towards Prime Minister Viktor Orban's office on Friday in protest at perceived government attacks on media freedoms, as anger built at the sacking of the chief editor of the country's leading independent news website.

Earlier in the day, three editors at Index.hu and more than 80 journalists - almost its entire staff - resigned over what they called an "open attempt to exert pressure" on the site after its owner refused to reinstate Szabolcs Dull.