Foreign Intelligence Service of Russia allegedly proposed organizing a staged assassination attempt against Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to improve his electoral prospects, according to a report by The Washington Post citing information from a European intelligence service.
The report states that last month, a unit within the SVR raised concerns about a significant decline in public support for Orbán ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
An internal document from Russian operatives, obtained by European intelligence, suggested implementing a strategy capable of “radically changing the entire paradigm of the election campaign” by staging an “assassination attempt” on Orbán.
“Such an incident would shift the perception of the campaign from the rational sphere of socio-economic issues to an emotional one, where key themes would become state security, stability, and the protection of the political system,” the report said, referring to the SVR’s Directorate for Active Measures.
So far, no physical attack against Orbán has occurred. However, the claims highlight the level of stakes Russia may associate with Hungary’s elections.
Orbán has consistently supported Moscow’s positions within the European Union and NATO, and is currently using his veto power to block key financial aid to Ukraine.
Orbán’s spokesperson Zoltán Kovács did not respond to requests for comment on the report, alleged Russian interference, or ties with Moscow. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the claims as “disinformation.”
