💥🔎NEW INVESTIGATION: We reveal how, under now-Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, Hungarian intelligence spied in Brussels against the EU, attempting to recruit Hungarians working in EU institutions. @direkt36.bsky.social @papertrailmedia.de @spiegel.de @tijd.be @larsbove.bsky.social @hmnzngr.bsky.social

💥🔎NEW INVESTIGATION: We reveal how, under now-Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, Hungarian intelligence spied in Brussels against the EU, attempting to recruit Hungarians working in EU institutions. @direkt36.bsky.social @papertrailmedia.de @spiegel.de @tijd.be @larsbove.bsky.social @hmnzngr.bsky.social

An extremely proud day for Hungarians. I just really hope Orbán’s proxies won’t launch a smear campaign, since Krasznahorkai is an outspoken critic of contemporary fascism, far-right politics, and Viktor Orbán himself.

Oops. Ungarn spioniert in Brüssel... Spannende Recherche von @hmnzngr.bsky.social für @spiegel.de, @derstandard.at & @papertrailmedia.de, mit @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social, Andras Petho and @larsbove.bsky.social 🔥🔥

Ein Agent, getarnt als Diplomat in der ungarischen EU-Vertretung, versuchte offenbar zwischen 2015 und 2017 Mitarbeiter der Kommission zu rekrutieren – inklusive Geldangebot. Einer, den er ansprach, erzählt uns davon: www.derstandard.at/story/310000...

NEU: Wie Ungarns Spione in Brüssel gegen die EU arbeiteten. Unsere Recherche mit @tijd.be und @direkt36.bsky.social zeigt erstmals, wie der ungarische Auslandsgeheimdienst EU-Beamte ins Visier nahm - und aufflog. Hier geht's zum Text im SPIEGEL www.spiegel.de/ausland/eu-w...

🔎 We analyzed thousands of Meta and Google ads paid by V4 (🇨🇿🇭🇺🇵🇱🇸🇰) politicians and proxies that attacked journalists, activists and NGOs. 💰U.S. Big Tech profited from hateful content spread by allies of PM Robert Fico, PM Viktor Orbán, or Czech extremists. 🔗 Full story: vsquare.org/sponsored-ha...

🧐One of Viktor Orbán's MPs and a Hungarian government commissioner just shared a bizarre AI-generated image suggesting it’s over for Ursula von der Leyen and that “the Patriots have arrived.” A drunk trio of Orbán, Babiš, and Fico ring her doorbell—with Fico barely managing to stay on his feet.

🔎 We analyzed thousands of Meta and Google ads paid by V4 (🇨🇿🇭🇺🇵🇱🇸🇰) politicians and proxies that attacked journalists, activists and NGOs. 💰U.S. Big Tech profited from hateful content spread by allies of PM Robert Fico, PM Viktor Orbán, or Czech extremists. 🔗 Full story: vsquare.org/sponsored-ha...

💥🔎💰NEW INVESTIGATION: Across the Visegrád countries, politicians use paid social media ads to attack journalists, human rights activists, and NGOs – while Meta & Google profit from this #SponsoredHate. Such ads reach tens of thousands of users while evading platform moderation. @vsquare.bsky.social

🧐One of Viktor Orbán's MPs and a Hungarian government commissioner just shared a bizarre AI-generated image suggesting it’s over for Ursula von der Leyen and that “the Patriots have arrived.” A drunk trio of Orbán, Babiš, and Fico ring her doorbell—with Fico barely managing to stay on his feet.

💥🔎💰NEW INVESTIGATION: Across the Visegrád countries, politicians use paid social media ads to attack journalists, human rights activists, and NGOs – while Meta & Google profit from this #SponsoredHate. Such ads reach tens of thousands of users while evading platform moderation. @vsquare.bsky.social

💥 Estonian authorities have detained two suspects tied to the GRU parcel bomb plot that shook Europe last year, when explosive devices hidden in packages sent from Estonia detonated in countries including Germany, the UK, and Poland.

Brussels to curb the travel of Russian diplomats within the EU, in response to a surge in sabotage attempts that intelligence agencies say are led by spies operating under diplomatic cover. Czech-led initiative backed after Hungary drops its veto. With @andybounds.bsky.social on.ft.com/46Umr0T

💥🔎🇷🇺 Our analysis reveals the scale of Russia’s massive propaganda offensive in Moldova: in 3 weeks, 9,900 TikTok videos were published and generated over 93 million views, created with artificial intelligence. Yet despite Moscow’s efforts, the pro-European PAS secured 50.2% in the Sept 28 election.

💥🔎🇷🇺 Our analysis reveals the scale of Russia’s massive propaganda offensive in Moldova: in 3 weeks, 9,900 TikTok videos were published and generated over 93 million views, created with artificial intelligence. Yet despite Moscow’s efforts, the pro-European PAS secured 50.2% in the Sept 28 election.

💥🌈Despite the Orbán government's ban under the homophobic “child protection law,” thousands joined today’s Pride march in the Hungarian city of Pécs. Far-right protesters showed up, but police protected the march—just as they did when 100-200K defied the Budapest Pride ban this summer 📸: 444.hu

You know how there’s that one mate of yours who lurches from personal crisis to personal crisis, keeps losing his job, goes through a string of emotionally devastating relationships and yet somehow comes out of it with an enviable lifestyle? France.

💰Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz and their proxies spent six times more on Facebook ads than all Czech parties combined. In Czechia, it was an election campaign; in Hungary, it wasn’t. The Orbán camp' paid content is still live on Facebook and YouTube despite a new ban. Source: @HungarianSunday on X

💥🌈Despite the Orbán government's ban under the homophobic “child protection law,” thousands joined today’s Pride march in the Hungarian city of Pécs. Far-right protesters showed up, but police protected the march—just as they did when 100-200K defied the Budapest Pride ban this summer 📸: 444.hu

☕💡Independent investigations into corruption and abuse of power don’t come easy—they require time, resources, and risk. If you’d like to help me keep going, you can support here:

💥🔎 On X/Twitter, Visegrád24 became famous for its anti-Muslim and anti-migration stance as well as waves of disinformation. A recent report brings to light people, funding and political actors tied to their Central Europe-based but international network.

💰Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz and their proxies spent six times more on Facebook ads than all Czech parties combined. In Czechia, it was an election campaign; in Hungary, it wasn’t. The Orbán camp' paid content is still live on Facebook and YouTube despite a new ban. Source: @HungarianSunday on X

🔎 Before Russia’s war, Czech firms were among the biggest importers of Russian birch plywood. Though now banned under EU rules, loopholes let it slip back via Kazakhstan or Georgia — so it still likely ends up in Czechia. @investigace_cz @VSquare_Project

💥🔎 On X/Twitter, Visegrád24 became famous for its anti-Muslim and anti-migration stance as well as waves of disinformation. A recent report brings to light people, funding and political actors tied to their Central Europe-based but international network. @vsquare.bsky.social

⚡️Investigation, visualized: we reveal full details of 2024’s arson attacks & parcel bombs across Europe. The sabotage was carried out by Russia’s GRU, masterminded by a smuggler of radioactive materials with perpetrators recruited via Telegram. 🔗Link: vsquare.org/crossing...

🕵️ Several people in Czechia work for spyware firm Intellexa, accused of aiding human rights abuses and now on trial in Greece. We found the address of a key Israeli figure in a Czech town — marked by a huge Israeli flag. @investigace_cz @VSquare_Project

💥 In Copenhagen, Donald Tusk trolled Viktor Orbán, who claimed Europe’s real danger isn’t Russia (which is too weak, he argues) but “economic stagnation and lost competitiveness.” Ironically, those are Hungary’s biggest problems due to Orbán’s failed economic policies, and rampant corruption.

🍲In @vsquare.bsky.social's fresh Goulash newsletter, we dish up coverage of the Oct 3–4 Czech elections, where Andrej Babiš’s ANO looks set to rise back to the top and reclaim power. To spice it up, there's also a recap of our earlier stories on Babiš, plus some analysis on what to expect from him.

💥🔎 On X/Twitter, Visegrád24 became famous for its anti-Muslim and anti-migration stance as well as waves of disinformation. A recent report brings to light people, funding and political actors tied to their Central Europe-based but international network. @vsquare.bsky.social

👌🍲 Our Goulash newsletter is back this Thursday! Get fresh scoops and hard-hitting investigations from Central Europe’s top non-profit outlets delivered straight to your inbox every two weeks. 📨 Subscribe: http://vsquare.org/n...

This is the day NPR and PBS hoped would never come: The day federal funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting dries up. CPB is winding down its operations and local stations are making big changes to cope with budget shortfalls. Here's a thread about what stands out to me the most...

👌🍲 Our Goulash newsletter is back this Thursday! Get fresh scoops and hard-hitting investigations from Central Europe’s top non-profit outlets delivered straight to your inbox every two weeks. 📨 Subscribe: http://vsquare.org/n...

💥 Estonian authorities detained two suspects over the GRU parcel bomb plot that rocked Europe last year, when explosive devices hidden in packages sent from Estonia exploded in Germany, the UK, and Poland. @vsquare.bsky.social @holgerroonemaa.bsky.social

🔎🌊Crystal clear at its source in Ukraine, the Tisza river carries tons of plastic waste by the time it reaches Hungary. A new investigation shows how poor waste management in Transcarpathia, compounded by Russia’s war, has worsened the river’s pollution.

⚡️Investigation, visualized: we reveal full details of 2024’s arson attacks and parcel bombs across Europe. The sabotage was carried out by Russia’s GRU, masterminded by a smuggler of radioactive materials, with perpetrators recruited via Telegram. 🔗Link: vsquare.org/crossing...

💥 Estonian authorities detained two suspects over the GRU parcel bomb plot that rocked Europe last year, when explosive devices hidden in packages sent from Estonia exploded in Germany, the UK, and Poland. @vsquare.bsky.social @holgerroonemaa.bsky.social

✈️🇬🇷 Back from Athens and the International Journalism Forum, themed “Navigating the Age of Doubt” this year. Great to reconnect, make new friends, and catch up on journalism trends—and to note that while many think Hungary’s press freedom is worst in the EU, it’s actually Greece. @vsquare.bsky.social

💥"The Hungarian leader said it doesn't matter if a few Hungarian drones flew over Ukraine, since he doesn't consider Ukraine an independent, sovereign country."

⚡️BREAKING: Viktor Orbán’s government says Hungary will block Ukrainian news sites in response to Ukraine’s earlier ban on pro-Kremlin Hungarian-language portals. Orbán’s chief of staff Gergely Gulyás announced it—auto-translation on the pic, and here's the original: www.facebook.com/gergely.guly...

‼️Hungary's NATO allies should pay attention: Asked if he considers what would happen if NATO’s Article 5 is invoked, Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán said he spends much time on war issues but refused to say if Hungary would respect Article 5. He’d reveal his stance only if the “situation arises.”

⚡️PM Viktor Orbán said on Monday that 2-4 Hungarian drones “either crossed or not” into Ukraine’s airspace, but added “Ukraine is not a sovereign country” and Hungary is not their enemy, so it doesn’t matter. 🚀Ukraine’s army said one Hungarian drone incursion on September 26 reached 20–30 km deep.

☕💡Independent investigations into corruption and abuse of power don’t come easy—they require time, resources, and risk. If you’d like to help me keep going, you can support here:

💥After Viktor Orbán's foreign minister Péter Szijjártó dismissed Zelensky as “becoming an insane Hungarian-hater” for claiming Hungarian drones crossed into Ukraine, here are details from Ukraine’s army on the airspace violation by the “drone-type object” on September 26.

⚡️Investigation, visualized: we reveal full details of 2024’s arson attacks and parcel bombs across Europe. The sabotage was carried out by Russia’s GRU, masterminded by a smuggler of radioactive materials, with perpetrators recruited via Telegram. 🔗Link: vsquare.org/crossing...

💥🕵️Several people in Czechia work for spyware firm Intellexa, accused of aiding human rights abuses and now on trial in Greece. Documents tie its operations to Israeli entrepreneur Dvir Horef Hazan, found in a Silesian town beneath a large Israeli flag.

🔎💰INVESTIGATION: During Hungary’s EU presidency, Viktor Orbán’s government pressured visiting delegations to stay at an Orbán family-owned luxury hotel. The Finnish PM & his team was even redirected there by organizers despite booking a different hotel.

🔎💥VISUALIZED INVESTIGATION: Six media outlets uncovered the full details of 2024’s arson attacks & explosive parcels across Europe. 🇷🇺 These sabotage ops were carried out by Russia’s GRU & masterminded by a smuggler of radioactive materials. 🔗Link: vsquare.org/crossing-nat... @vsquare.bsky.social

🔎🌊Crystal clear at its source in Ukraine, the Tisza river carries tons of plastic waste by the time it reaches Hungary. A new investigation shows how poor waste management, compounded by Russia’s war, has worsened the river’s pollution. @vsquare.bsky.social @atlatszo.hu vsquare.org/tisza-river-...

💥This will be a sleepless night in Budapest for many powerful people: Orbán’s envoys will scramble to deceive Trump and his administration into thinking Hungary & Slovakia can’t live without Russian oil—while the Adriatic pipeline from Croatia offers a clear alternative: www.cnn.com/politics/liv...