Hungary Expels Russian Spy
Hungary has quietly expelled a Russian intelligence officer who operated under diplomatic cover in right-wing and foreign policy institutes close to Viktor Orbán's government.
TL;DR
- Hungary expelled Artur Sushkov, a 36-year-old Russian intelligence officer from the Russian Embassy in Budapest.
- Sushkov operated under diplomatic cover and was involved in right-wing and foreign policy institutes close to Viktor Orbán's government.
- The expulsion was reportedly delayed by Orbán's administration due to political interests related to Russia's support during the election campaign.
- The operation against Sushkov was conducted by Hungary's Office for the Protection of the Constitution in collaboration with a NATO intelligence service.
- Sushkov focused on infiltrating institutions like the Mathias Corvinus Collegium and the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs, aiming to recruit collaborators and gather political information.
- Despite Sushkov's expulsion, several other identified or suspected Russian intelligence officers reportedly remain at the Russian Embassy in Budapest.
- The article also briefly mentions a police investigation into companies linked to media mogul Gyula Balásy and Orbán's decision to relinquish his parliamentary mandate.