Russia is trying to interfere in the elections in Hungary – media

Russia has sent a group of specialists to Budapest for possible interference in the parliamentary elections in Hungary and support for the government of Viktor Orban.

This was reported by VSquare, citing several European sources in the field of national security.

According to the publication, the operation is being coordinated by the First Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration, Sergei Kiriyenko.

Sources claim that he has previously led operations to influence elections in Moldova, including voter bribery, the use of botnets, and information campaigns against President Maia Sandu.

Moscow’s plan involves placing a team of social media manipulation specialists in the Russian embassy in Budapest. They are allegedly to be given diplomatic or service passports to avoid possible expulsion from the country.

According to sources, these are three individuals acting on behalf of the Russian military intelligence agency GRU.

The group reportedly arrived in Budapest a few weeks ago, but it is not yet known whether they have begun active activities.

Western intelligence services, according to the publication’s sources, have already identified the participants in the operation. It is also noted that Kiriyenko’s team is in contact with people associated with the election campaign of Viktor Orban’s government.

As previously reported, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited the country’s anti-terrorist center on the day of the seizure of Ukrainian tax collection vehicles that were transiting through Hungary to Ukraine.

As a reminder, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed the opinion that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban may be defeated in the upcoming parliamentary elections, after which Kyiv and Budapest will have the opportunity to restore full-fledged relations.