Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar has publicly called on Russia to cease any attempts to interfere in the nation's upcoming parliamentary elections. The appeal comes amid allegations that the Kremlin has deployed a covert team to sway the vote in favor of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Hungary is set for a pivotal election on April 12th, marking a significant challenge to Orbán's tenure. Péter Magyar, leading the Tisza Party, is currently ahead in opinion polls.
Reports from investigative outlet VSquare suggest Russia dispatched a three-person team, operating under diplomatic cover at the Russian embassy in Budapest, with the explicit goal of ensuring an Orbán victory. This operation is reportedly overseen by Kremlin official Sergei Kiriyenko.
The Russian embassy in Budapest has denied these allegations, labeling them as fake news and suggesting Magyar is the source of the claims.
In response, Magyar stated, "I strongly call on the Russian leadership to refrain from any influence on the Hungarian parliamentary elections and from threatening Hungarians." He also indicated that if elected, the Tisza Party would pursue balanced relations with Russia while reinforcing Hungary's position within the European alliance.
The war in Ukraine has emerged as a central issue in the Hungarian campaign. Orbán maintains direct communication with President Putin, and Hungary continues to import substantial Russian fossil fuels despite EU directives.
Recently, Russia freed two Hungarian-Ukrainian prisoners of war following a direct request from Orbán. Concurrently, Hungary's relationship with Ukraine has significantly strained, particularly after Budapest blocked a crucial EU financial package for Kyiv. Tensions escalated with threats exchanged between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Hungarian authorities regarding blocked funds and subsequent raids involving Ukrainian nationals and seized assets.