Kremlin-linked strategy targets Orbán's main opponent ahead of elections – FT

The Financial Times has reported that the Kremlin-linked Social Design Agency has developed a disinformation campaign backing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of the upcoming elections.

Source: European Pravda, citing Financial Times

Details: According to the Financial Times, which relied on anonymous sources and a campaign planning document it has obtained, the main effort is aimed at creating a negative image of Orbán's rival, Péter Magyar.

The plan for a social media campaign, reportedly approved in the Kremlin, is intended to improve Orbán's electoral chances while undermining his key opponent.

The disinformation campaign project was reportedly drafted late last year, and the document was obtained by FT.

Campaign materials propose promoting Orbán's image as the only candidate capable of preserving Hungary's sovereignty and engaging with global leaders as an equal, as well as portraying him as a strong leader with friends around the world.

Magyar, by contrast, is to be depicted as a puppet of Brussels without external backing, while his political force is to be presented as incompetent, contradictory and driven by a hidden agenda.

The FT's sources say the Russian agency has been avoiding direct contact with Orbán's inner circle, understanding that exposing an obvious Kremlin hand behind the campaign could harm the Hungarian prime minister. Instead, it reportedly opted to work through Hungarian influencers.

For similar reasons, the strategists refrained from drawing parallels between Orbán and Vladimir Putin as strong leaders, focusing instead on portraying Orbán as a key partner of Donald Trump and emphasising that this is important for Hungary's security and economic stability.

According to the FT, since February, Social Design Agency consultants have been actively reviewing Hungarian news and think-tank publications to generate campaign content. They also reportedly identified around 50 pro-government figures and about 30 individuals considered part of the opposition who could be used to amplify the content.

The FT suggests, although does not state outright, that these efforts may be linked to the recent surge in anti-Ukrainian content on Hungarian social media, particularly narratives centred on the controversial detention of Oschadbank cash-in-transit guards. It cites the unusually large spread on Facebook of a story by the pro-Orbán tabloid Ripost.hu, which used AI-generated images of the alleged detainees. Within days, the post gathered 130,000 reactions, mostly from foreign users.

Russia's ambassador Yevgeny Stanislavov denied any interference by Moscow in Hungary's elections. Orbán's camp also dismissed the report as fake news and an attempt to divert attention from threats supposedly made by President Zelenskyy.

Background:

• Earlier, investigative journalists from the VSquare project, working with European security services, reported that Putin had instructed political technologists and Russian military intelligence to intervene in Hungary's parliamentary elections in order to help secure Orbán's victory.
• Péter Magyar has publicly called on Russia not to interfere in the elections, saying that a campaign prepared by Russian political strategists could be launched in the coming days.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!