The Kremlin has launched a covert disinformation campaign aimed at helping Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán secure re-election next month, according to people familiar with the matter cited by the Financial Times on Wednesday, March 11.
According to the report, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a strategy developed by the Kremlin-linked consultancy Social Design Agency. The plan allegedly involves flooding Hungarian social media with messages designed in Russia and posted by influential Hungarian figures to boost Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party.
The campaign frames Orbán as a “strong leader with global friends” capable of protecting Hungary’s sovereignty, while portraying his main rival, opposition leader Péter Magyar, as a “Brussels puppet” without international support, according to documents seen by the FT.
Magyar’s Tisza Party has emerged as the strongest challenger to Orbán ahead of Hungary’s parliamentary election scheduled for April 12. The proposal also outlines “information attacks” against the opposition, aiming to depict the party as divided and manipulated by the European Union.
The alleged operation follows earlier campaigns run by the Social Design Agency, which Western governments sanctioned in 2024 for its role in the “Doppelgänger” online influence operation that spread fake news and deepfakes targeting Ukraine and Western governments.
According to the FT, the Hungarian campaign is designed to appear organic rather than openly linked to Moscow. Russian consultants reportedly studied Hungarian media and identified dozens of pro-government and opposition figures whose content could amplify the narratives.
Both Moscow and Budapest denied the allegations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the claims were based on “a fake,” while the Hungarian government dismissed the report as a “left-wing accusation.”
Tensions between Hungary and Ukraine have escalated in recent weeks amid disputes over energy transit and EU support for Kyiv. Orbán has repeatedly blocked or threatened to block EU initiatives related to Ukraine and recently vetoed a proposed €90-billion EU loan package for Kyiv.
The dispute intensified after Ukraine said infrastructure linked to the Druzhba oil pipeline had been damaged in a Russian strike earlier this year, disrupting some deliveries to Central Europe, including Hungary. Orbán has accused Kyiv of blocking Russian oil flows and warned he could veto further EU measures supporting Ukraine.