Hungarian Opposition Leader Accuses Orbán’s Fidesz Party and Russia of Planning Disinformation Campaign

Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar has issued a stark warning that the ruling Fidesz party, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, is preparing to launch a sophisticated disinformation campaign in collaboration with Russian political strategists. The campaign, set to begin within days, will primarily target social media platforms, with a particular focus on TikTok.

Magyar, who heads the opposition Tisza party, revealed that Fidesz has prepared 14 discrediting video clips created using artificial intelligence technology. These videos reportedly target both Magyar himself and members of his family, and are designed to undermine his party’s standing ahead of parliamentary elections.

“In the coming days, the Fidesz party, together with Russian services, will launch a smear and disinformation campaign that has already been tested in Moldova, primarily on social media, particularly on TikTok,” Magyar stated in a Facebook post.

According to Magyar, the operation involves distributing these fabricated videos through a network of fake social media accounts. The individuals behind these accounts will reportedly receive payments amounting to tens of millions of Hungarian forints—equivalent to tens of thousands of euros—for their participation in spreading the disinformation.

The allegations come after investigative journalists uncovered evidence that Russia had deployed a team of political strategists to Hungary. These operatives are reportedly working from the Russian embassy in Budapest with the explicit goal of conducting disinformation operations and interfering in Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary elections.

Magyar has publicly called on Prime Minister Orbán to immediately halt the planned campaign and expel Russian agents from Hungarian territory. “I call on Viktor Orbán to immediately stop the planned series of election manipulations and expel the Russian agents from Hungary,” he wrote, adding a warning that “after 12 April all those who took part in these crimes will face trial.”

The situation highlights growing concerns about foreign interference in European democratic processes, particularly from Russia. Hungary under Orbán’s leadership has maintained closer ties with Moscow than most EU member states, even after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The country has repeatedly obstructed or delayed EU sanctions against Russia and military aid to Ukraine.

This isn’t the first time Magyar has addressed Russian influence in Hungarian politics. Previously, he appealed directly to Moscow to refrain from interfering in Hungary’s elections, while simultaneously promising “balanced” relations with Russia if his party were to gain power.

The alleged disinformation tactics mirror similar campaigns observed in other European countries, most notably Moldova, where Russian-backed operations have attempted to sway public opinion and electoral outcomes. The sophisticated use of artificial intelligence to create convincing but false content represents an escalation in the methods employed to manipulate voters.

Political analysts note that this development comes at a critical time for Hungarian democracy, as Orbán’s government has already faced international criticism for its control over media outlets and democratic backsliding. The European Commission has repeatedly expressed concerns about the rule of law situation in Hungary, with the country currently subject to proceedings under Article 7 of the EU Treaty.

As Hungary approaches its parliamentary elections, the international community will be watching closely for evidence of foreign interference and the impact of these alleged disinformation operations on the democratic process.