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Russian-linked bots are promoting violent rhetoric against Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on social media ahead of the upcoming European Parliament elections, according to multiple cybersecurity experts and government officials.
The campaign, which has spread across platforms including X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, features posts with the hashtag #KillOrban alongside violent imagery and incendiary messaging. Analysts believe the operation aims to inflame tensions within Hungary and potentially destabilize the political landscape before citizens head to the polls.
Hungary’s National Security Service identified the coordinated effort last week, tracing many of the accounts to servers based in Russia. The agency noted a significant uptick in bot activity targeting Orbán, despite the Hungarian leader’s often conciliatory stance toward Moscow compared to other European Union members.
“We’re seeing a sophisticated disinformation operation with clear hallmarks of Russian involvement,” said Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. “These attacks represent a dangerous escalation in information warfare tactics against our country.”
The timing of the campaign coincides with increased political pressure on Orbán domestically. His government has faced growing criticism for maintaining economic ties with Russia despite EU sanctions imposed following the invasion of Ukraine. Hungary has repeatedly blocked or delayed EU aid packages to Kyiv while continuing to purchase Russian energy supplies.
Cybersecurity firm Mandiant, which analyzed hundreds of the suspicious accounts, reported that many were created within days of each other and followed similar posting patterns typical of coordinated inauthentic behavior. The accounts predominantly used Hungarian language but contained linguistic errors suggesting machine translation.
“This campaign differs from previous Russian disinformation efforts in its explicit call for violence against a head of state,” said Sandra Joyce, Mandiant’s Executive Vice President of Global Intelligence. “It represents a concerning evolution in tactics designed to provoke real-world consequences.”
The Hungarian government has officially requested assistance from both the European Union’s East StratCom Task Force, which monitors Russian disinformation, and Meta’s security team to help counter the campaign. Both organizations have confirmed they are investigating the matter.
Political analysts suggest the operation may have multiple objectives beyond simple disruption. Dr. Attila Demkó from the MCC Geopolitical Workshop in Budapest believes the campaign could be designed to push Hungary further away from its Western allies.
“By creating the perception that Western-aligned opposition forces are behind violent rhetoric, these operations aim to deepen Hungary’s isolation within the EU while making reconciliation with Russia seem more appealing,” Demkó explained.
The campaign highlights the vulnerability of Central European nations to information operations. Unlike previous Russian disinformation efforts that focused on spreading false news stories, this approach directly targets political figures with calls to violence, potentially crossing legal boundaries in many EU countries.
In response, Hungary has increased its cybersecurity protocols around government infrastructure and enhanced monitoring of social media. The country’s electoral commission has also issued warnings about potential foreign interference in the upcoming European elections.
Tech platforms have begun removing the most explicit content, with Meta reporting that it has taken down over 300 accounts linked to the campaign for violating its policies against inciting violence. X has been slower to respond, prompting criticism from European officials.
The European Commission condemned the campaign and announced it would incorporate findings into its ongoing work to strengthen the Digital Services Act, which aims to regulate online content more effectively across the bloc.
As Hungary prepares for European Parliament elections, security experts warn that this campaign likely represents just one facet of a broader strategy to influence democratic processes across the continent. Similar operations targeting other European leaders may emerge as election dates approach in various member states.
“This incident demonstrates how geopolitical tensions continue to manifest in the digital realm,” said Věra Jourová, Vice President of the European Commission. “Protecting our democratic processes from such manipulation remains a critical priority for the European Union.”
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6 Comments
This is a worrying escalation in the Kremlin’s efforts to meddle in European politics. Using social media to incite violence and instability is a dangerous game. I hope the Hungarian government is able to effectively respond and protect their citizens from this kind of foreign interference.
It’s deeply concerning to see Russian-linked bots promoting violence against a sitting head of state. This kind of information warfare tactic is a serious threat to democracy. I hope the EU and its member states can work together to combat these malicious influence operations.
The Kremlin’s apparent involvement in this operation is troubling but not surprising. They have a history of using social media to sow discord and division in European countries. It’s critical that platforms and governments work together to identify and remove these coordinated influence campaigns.
You’re right, this is a common tactic the Kremlin has used in the past. Maintaining election integrity and secure democratic processes should be a top priority for all EU member states.
While I’m no fan of Orbán, this type of violent rhetoric and attempted destabilization is unacceptable. I hope the Hungarian authorities are able to effectively counter this disinformation campaign and protect the integrity of their upcoming elections.
This is a concerning development. Spreading violent rhetoric and disinformation to undermine political processes is unacceptable, regardless of the source. I hope the Hungarian authorities can effectively counter this malicious campaign ahead of the elections.