Russian intelligence reportedly discussed staging a fake assassination attempt on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to shift the focus of the upcoming elections.
Russian Plot to Influence Hungarian Elections Revealed
According to “The Washington Post,” Russian Foreign Intelligence Service officers proposed a plan to “fundamentally change the entire paradigm of the election campaign” in Hungary by orchestrating an attack on Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Agents reportedly believed such an incident would shift the campaign’s focus from socio-economic issues to national security and political system stability. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the findings as disinformation.
Hungary Seen Within Russia’s Sphere of Influence
Andras Telkes, a former deputy head of Hungarian foreign intelligence, stated that Russia would do anything to keep Orbán in power, viewing Hungary as part of its sphere of influence.
The report notes a parallel to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump during the U.S. election campaign, which led to a surge in support for the Republican candidate.
Russian Oil Supplies to Hungary and Slovakia
Hungary and Slovakia are the last EU member states still importing Russian oil by land, benefiting from exemptions to EU sanctions imposed in 2023. From the full-scale invasion of Ukraine through the end of 2024, these countries received €12.4 billion worth of Russian oil.
Hungary’s Increasing Reliance on Russian Energy
Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Hungary has not only maintained but increased its dependence on Russian oil, rising from 61% in 2021 to 86% three years later, and also maintained its reliance on Russian natural gas supplies.
Kremlin Establishes Team to Interfere in Hungarian Elections
In early March, investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi reported that the Kremlin established a special team tasked with interfering in the April parliamentary elections in Hungary. The team, led by Sergei Kiriyenko, first deputy chief of staff to Vladimir Putin, aims to maintain Orbán’s power.
The plan involves deploying Russian manipulation experts to the Russian embassy in Budapest, equipped with diplomatic or service passports. Sources indicate a three-person team operating on behalf of the GRU, Russian military intelligence, though its current activity is unclear.
TISZA Party Leads in Hungarian Polls
The Hungarian parliamentary elections are scheduled for April 12th. Voters will elect 199 deputies to the National Assembly, with 106 elected in single-member districts and 93 from national party lists. Parliamentary terms last four years.
The opposition TISZA party currently leads Fidesz in most independent polls. A March survey by Minerva showed 51.3% support for Peter Magyar’s party, while Fidesz received 40.1%.