MEPs Urge EU Action on Alleged Russian Interference in Hungary Elections
A cross-party group of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) has urgently called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Rule of Law Commissioner Michael McGrath to investigate alleged Russian interference in Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary elections. Just three days before the vote, which challenges Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s sixteen-year rule, the MEPs cited reports of disinformation campaigns, voter coercion, and intimidation of journalists orchestrated by the ruling Fidesz party with Kremlin support. The letter references an independent report alleging that Russian officials, including Sergei Kiriyenko, dispatched teams to Budapest to manipulate election outcomes, similar to tactics used in Moldova. Concerns were further heightened by leaked recordings showing Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó sharing sensitive EU documents regarding Ukraine with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. The MEPs warned that the EU cannot credibly defend democracy abroad while ignoring such severe strains on electoral integrity within its own borders. They demanded an immediate assessment of conditions for free and fair competition, highlighting unauthorized access to opposition IT systems and state-led intimidation against investigative journalists exposing these links.
Wire timeline
MEPs Urge EU Action on Alleged Russian Interference in Hungary Elections
A cross-party group of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) has urgently called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Rule of Law Commissioner Michael McGrath to investigate alleged Russian interference in Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary elections. Just three days before the vote, which challenges Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s sixteen-year rule, the MEPs cited reports of disinformation campaigns, voter coercion, and intimidation of journalists orchestrated by the ruling Fidesz party with Kremlin support. The letter references an independent report alleging that Russian officials, including Sergei Kiriyenko, dispatched teams to Budapest to manipulate election outcomes, similar to tactics used in Moldova. Concerns were further heightened by leaked recordings showing Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó sharing sensitive EU documents regarding Ukraine with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. The MEPs warned that the EU cannot credibly defend democracy abroad while ignoring such severe strains on electoral integrity within its own borders. They demanded an immediate assessment of conditions for free and fair competition, highlighting unauthorized access to opposition IT systems and state-led intimidation against investigative journalists exposing these links.
The Guardian