A third secretary of the Russian Embassy in Budapest believed to be serving as an agent of Russia’s SVR intelligence agency remains posted in Budapest, despite allegedly attempting to place at least one Hungarian young person into a senior government position in order to extract sensitive information for Moscow.
The case sheds light on how Russian services have sought to build their own espionage networks in Hungary, including during the years of Viktor Orbán’s governments — and how only weakly these efforts have been countered by the Hungarian state. Whether this will change remains an open question.
Russia did not relent under ‘friendly’ Orbán governments
Even after Russia’s attempted invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and throughout the protracted war that followed, successive Orbán governments have struck a conspicuously understanding tone towards Vladimir Putin’s regime. Officially, this has been justified by Hungary’s heavy reliance on Russian energy supplies, making the maintenance of cordial relations a matter of national interest.
At times, government rhetoric has also hinted — albeit vaguely — that some of Putin’s criticisms of the West and its eastward expansion are not without merit.
Yet despite this relationship, widely viewed in Brussels as unusually close and politically costly within the EU, Russian intelligence activity in Hungary has not abated. One such operation appears to have failed rather spectacularly — though its alleged organiser continues to work undisturbed at the Russian embassy in Budapest.
The case offers a stark warning to ambitious young Hungarians tempted by seemingly “irresistible” invitations to travel to Russia.
Talent-spotters target Hungarian youth
Russia’s efforts extend well beyond military force and drone warfare. The Kremlin continues to deploy soft power with intent, including language-study trips, cultural programmes, and international events such as the World Youth Festival held in Sochi in March 2024.
A Hungarian delegation attended the festival, led by Roland B., a Hungarian national living in Russia. Officially an entrepreneur, he is described by Telex as acting in a talent-spotting role — identifying individuals who could later prove useful to Russian intelligence.
It was at this event that Alexander V., the Budapest-based diplomat believed to be linked to the SVR, was introduced — via Roland B. — to a Hungarian applicant for a senior public administration post. The role required national security clearance. Although the candidate allegedly attempted, on instruction, to conceal his contact with Alexander V., the connection was uncovered, and he was denied the position.
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Soft power operations continue unhindered
It remains unclear how many Hungarians — young or otherwise — have taken part in similar trips. Participants may find their digital devices accessed, their activities monitored, or themselves placed in compromising situations at informal social events, potentially rendering them vulnerable to coercion or recruitment.
Such gatherings often involve loosely structured programmes, where attendees cannot be certain whether they are speaking to fellow participants or intelligence operatives. According to Telex, even those who do not become agents may still serve a purpose: speaking positively about Russia online or acting as informal advocates for its interests.
Both B. Roland and Alexander V. remain active and are reportedly organising another major event in Yekaterinburg this September, which is again expected to attract numerous Hungarian participants. Roland B. refused to respond to Telex’s questions concerning the issue.
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Oh, put away the smelling salts and save me the phony indignation.
Everybody spies on everybody: friend, foe, neither, either, both. It’s basic reality of international relations and politics. You think Germany doesn’t spy on France and France on Germany, and both on Denmark and Denmark on them, etc.!? Don’t be absurd.
Good points, Michael!
I have heard about Pegasus the Israeli spy software, didn’t you hear about it Stupid Steiner?
Or you cant criticize Ishrael 😂😂😂
Russia is a shit-hole that cannot civilize itself. Even Putin hires tutors from the West to educate his young children who he fathered from his mistresses who are kept away from public view. Russia somehow is incapable of establishing a democratic system of free elections and the most basic human rights of free expression and the ability to publicly oppose the government in power. Half a million of them have died in Ukraine and Putin will keep sending more to their deaths which presently are at the rate of 5,000 per week. Anyone with talent is highly motivated to immigrate to the West. Eventually it ends up collapsing and no one is able to accurately predict when because information is kept hidden. By the way I recently met a young Russian man who came to my home to install my dishwasher in Toronto. It was so obvious that he left to escape being sent to the front. I met another one of them in gym as well. I have no idea how many have come to Canada to escapte Putin’s war but there must be quite a few if I manage to randomly bump into them. Young people with talent and ambition leave the shit-hole called Russia.
Larry, I think you’ll find that many more than half a million have perished in this pointless conflict.
Only a sick mafia country like Russia organizes youth events with the only purpose of brainwashing bright young minds into serving a violet regime controlled by power-hungry old men who do not see any problem with sending young men and women to wars to kill and die.
Rossiya has become a steaming, stinking turd thanks to the work of one man, V. Putin and his domestic and international enablers. I feel sorry for the empathetic, right thinking people of Russia, they deserve far better. Rossiya is a angry boil that needs lancing.
What can one expect from a country where even the head of the church glorifies the sadistic slaughter of innocent people?
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has published a book titled “War: Beyond the Visible Causes and Consequences”, in which he asserts that the outcome of wars is “determined by God” and that “the one who stands on the side of light” emerges victorious. According to the press service of the Russian Orthodox Church, the book, published by the Moscow Patriarchate Publishing House, is devoted to the “metaphysics of war”. According to the patriarch, war has “redemptive significance”, touches upon “Russia’s metaphysical boundaries and purpose”, as well as “the racial aspect of war”, reports The Moscow Times.