A new Russia-related political scandal has erupted in Hungary ahead of parliamentary elections. Opposition politician Peter Magyar accused Prime Minister Viktor Orban of allowing members of Russian intelligence into the country to meddle in the electoral process.
Magyar, leader of the Tisa party, made the allegations on his Facebook page.
According to Magyar, representatives of Russian intelligence arrived in Budapest several weeks ago with the aim of influencing the outcome of the vote.
The opposition politician said he has information from several sources and demanded an immediate end to foreign interference in Hungary’s elections. He noted that the Kremlin had previously carried out a similar influence campaign targeting the electoral process in Moldova.
Magyar directly addressed Orban, urging him to immediately expel Russian intelligence officers working in Hungary under diplomatic cover.
He also called for the National Security Committee of Hungary to be convened and briefed on Russia’s interference.
Magyar added that the government should explain what information Hungarian authorities have received from allied intelligence services regarding Russian meddling.
Concluding his statement, Magyar said Hungary needs leadership that will not expose the country to threats from external actors.
In his words, the country must remain “a stable and predictable partner” trusted by its allies.
An investigation by the VSquare project alleged that the Kremlin launched a political influence operation aimed at ensuring the victory of Orban’s party in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Hungary.
