CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en-US"> <head> <meta charset='UTF-8'> <meta name='viewport' content='width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0'> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/favicon.ico" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="57x57" href="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/fv/apple-icon-57x57.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="60x60" href="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/fv/apple-icon-60x60.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="72x72" href="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/fv/apple-icon-72x72.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="76x76" href="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/fv/apple-icon-76x76.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="114x114" href="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/fv/apple-icon-114x114.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="120x120" href="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/fv/apple-icon-120x120.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="144x144" href="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/fv/apple-icon-144x144.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/fv/apple-icon-152x152.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/fv/apple-icon-180x180.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="192x192" href="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/fv/android-icon-192x192.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/fv/favicon-32x32.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="96x96" href="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/fv/favicon-96x96.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/fv/favicon-16x16.png"> <link rel="manifest" href="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/fv/manifest.json" > <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#ffffff"> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/fv/ms-icon-144x144.png"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, viewport-fit=cover"/> <meta name="theme-color" content="#fff"> <meta name='robots' content='index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1' /> <style>img:is([sizes="auto" i], [sizes^="auto," i]) { contain-intrinsic-size: 3000px 1500px }</style>  <title>Russian Diplomats with GRU Ties: Hungary’s Special Guests - VSquare.org</title> <meta name="description" content="Breaking NATO informal diplomatic protocol, Hungary's senior army chief engaged in a conversation with Russia's military attaché, surprising Western allies." /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://vsquare.org/russian-diplomats-with-gru-ties-espionage-hungary-budapest/" /> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Russian Diplomats with GRU Ties: Hungary’s Special Guests - VSquare.org" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Breaking NATO informal diplomatic protocol, Hungary's senior army chief engaged in a conversation with Russia's military attaché, surprising Western allies." /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vsquare.org/russian-diplomats-with-gru-ties-espionage-hungary-budapest/" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="VSquare.org" /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2024-10-15T13:20:49+00:00" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2024-10-15T15:14:41+00:00" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1500" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="625" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <meta name="author" content="Szabolcs Panyi" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:label1" content="Written by" /> <meta name="twitter:data1" content="Szabolcs Panyi" /> <meta name="twitter:label2" content="Est. reading time" /> <meta name="twitter:data2" content="7 minutes" /> <script type="application/ld+json" class="yoast-schema-graph">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://vsquare.org/russian-diplomats-with-gru-ties-espionage-hungary-budapest/","url":"https://vsquare.org/russian-diplomats-with-gru-ties-espionage-hungary-budapest/","name":"Russian Diplomats with GRU Ties: Hungary’s Special Guests - VSquare.org","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://vsquare.org/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://vsquare.org/russian-diplomats-with-gru-ties-espionage-hungary-budapest/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https://vsquare.org/russian-diplomats-with-gru-ties-espionage-hungary-budapest/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1.jpg","datePublished":"2024-10-15T13:20:49+00:00","dateModified":"2024-10-15T15:14:41+00:00","author":{"@id":"https://vsquare.org/#/schema/person/709a29170c31dc596641dcea0e279247"},"description":"Breaking NATO informal diplomatic protocol, Hungary's senior army chief engaged in a conversation with Russia's military attaché, surprising Western allies.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://vsquare.org/russian-diplomats-with-gru-ties-espionage-hungary-budapest/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://vsquare.org/russian-diplomats-with-gru-ties-espionage-hungary-budapest/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https://vsquare.org/russian-diplomats-with-gru-ties-espionage-hungary-budapest/#primaryimage","url":"https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1.jpg","width":1500,"height":625,"caption":"MOSCOW, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 1, 2022: Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban (L) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin give a joint press conference following their meeting at the Moscow Kremlin. Mikhail Klimentyev/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://vsquare.org/russian-diplomats-with-gru-ties-espionage-hungary-budapest/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Strona główna","item":"https://vsquare.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Russian Diplomats with GRU Ties: Hungary’s Special Guests"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://vsquare.org/#website","url":"https://vsquare.org/","name":"VSquare.org","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://vsquare.org/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://vsquare.org/#/schema/person/709a29170c31dc596641dcea0e279247","name":"Szabolcs Panyi","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https://vsquare.org/#/schema/person/image/","url":"http://vsquare.idve.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-male_Szabolcs-Edited-96x96.jpg","contentUrl":"http://vsquare.idve.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-male_Szabolcs-Edited-96x96.jpg","caption":"Szabolcs Panyi"},"sameAs":["https://vsquare.org/author/spanyi/"],"url":"https://vsquare.org/author/spanyi/"}]}</script>  <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//js.stripe.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//vsquare.org' /> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/vsquare.org\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=6.7.1"}}; /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(i,n){var o,s,e;function c(e){try{var t={supportTests:e,timestamp:(new Date).valueOf()};sessionStorage.setItem(o,JSON.stringify(t))}catch(e){}}function p(e,t,n){e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(t,0,0);var t=new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data),r=(e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(n,0,0),new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data));return t.every(function(e,t){return e===r[t]})}function u(e,t,n){switch(t){case"flag":return n(e,"\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f","\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200b\u26a7\ufe0f")?!1:!n(e,"\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf3","\ud83c\uddfa\u200b\ud83c\uddf3")&&!n(e,"\ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f","\ud83c\udff4\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc62\u200b\udb40\udc65\u200b\udb40\udc6e\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc7f");case"emoji":return!n(e,"\ud83d\udc26\u200d\u2b1b","\ud83d\udc26\u200b\u2b1b")}return!1}function f(e,t,n){var r="undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope?new OffscreenCanvas(300,150):i.createElement("canvas"),a=r.getContext("2d",{willReadFrequently:!0}),o=(a.textBaseline="top",a.font="600 32px Arial",{});return e.forEach(function(e){o[e]=t(a,e,n)}),o}function t(e){var t=i.createElement("script");t.src=e,t.defer=!0,i.head.appendChild(t)}"undefined"!=typeof Promise&&(o="wpEmojiSettingsSupports",s=["flag","emoji"],n.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},e=new Promise(function(e){i.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",e,{once:!0})}),new Promise(function(t){var n=function(){try{var e=JSON.parse(sessionStorage.getItem(o));if("object"==typeof e&&"number"==typeof e.timestamp&&(new Date).valueOf()<e.timestamp+604800&&"object"==typeof e.supportTests)return e.supportTests}catch(e){}return null}();if(!n){if("undefined"!=typeof Worker&&"undefined"!=typeof OffscreenCanvas&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&URL.createObjectURL&&"undefined"!=typeof Blob)try{var e="postMessage("+f.toString()+"("+[JSON.stringify(s),u.toString(),p.toString()].join(",")+"));",r=new Blob([e],{type:"text/javascript"}),a=new Worker(URL.createObjectURL(r),{name:"wpTestEmojiSupports"});return void(a.onmessage=function(e){c(n=e.data),a.terminate(),t(n)})}catch(e){}c(n=f(s,u,p))}t(n)}).then(function(e){for(var t in e)n.supports[t]=e[t],n.supports.everything=n.supports.everything&&n.supports[t],"flag"!==t&&(n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&n.supports[t]);n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!n.supports.flag,n.DOMReady=!1,n.readyCallback=function(){n.DOMReady=!0}}).then(function(){return e}).then(function(){var e;n.supports.everything||(n.readyCallback(),(e=n.source||{}).concatemoji?t(e.concatemoji):e.wpemoji&&e.twemoji&&(t(e.twemoji),t(e.wpemoji)))}))}((window,document),window._wpemojiSettings); /* ]]> */ </script> <style id='wp-emoji-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> img.wp-smiley, img.emoji { display: inline !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; height: 1em !important; width: 1em !important; margin: 0 0.07em !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; background: none !important; padding: 0 !important; } </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='bb-tcs-editor-style-shared-css' href='https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/editor-style-shared.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='global-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> :root{--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--square: 1;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--4-3: 4/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-4: 3/4;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-2: 3/2;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--2-3: 2/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--16-9: 16/9;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--9-16: 9/16;--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #ffffff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20: 0.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30: 0.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40: 1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50: 1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60: 2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70: 3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80: 5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural: 6px 6px 9px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep: 12px 12px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined: 6px 6px 0px -3px rgba(255, 255, 255, 1), 6px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap: 0.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap: 0.5em;}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} :where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;} :where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;} :root :where(.wp-block-pullquote){font-size: 1.5em;line-height: 1.6;} </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='give-styles-css' href='https://vsquare.org/wp-content/plugins/give/assets/dist/css/give.css?ver=3.17.0' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='give-donation-summary-style-frontend-css' href='https://vsquare.org/wp-content/plugins/give/assets/dist/css/give-donation-summary.css?ver=3.17.0' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='cmplz-general-css' href='https://vsquare.org/wp-content/plugins/complianz-gdpr/assets/css/cookieblocker.min.css?ver=1730277642' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='give-currency-switcher-style-css' href='https://vsquare.org/wp-content/plugins/give-currency-switcher/assets/css/give-currency-switcher-frontend.min.css?ver=2.1.0' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='give_recurring_css-css' href='https://vsquare.org/wp-content/plugins/give-recurring/assets/css/give-recurring.min.css?ver=2.9.0' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='main-css' href='https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/style.css?vr=1.34&ver=6.7.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='playht-pageplayer-css' href='https://vsquare.org/wp-content/plugins/play-ht/assets/dist/css/public.min.css?ver=3.6.4' type='text/css' media='all' /> <script type="text/javascript" id="give-stripe-js-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var give_stripe_vars = {"zero_based_currency":"","zero_based_currencies_list":["JPY","KRW","CLP","ISK","BIF","DJF","GNF","KHR","KPW","LAK","LKR","MGA","MZN","VUV"],"sitename":"","checkoutBtnTitle":"Donate","publishable_key":"pk_live_51Mo3uKA9A4OlkjzTcJlNIBFiskckNLeO21EJJRihA0SuEgqO0AL0kqQIa7jJYuAJ03NuN3wC5oJbzg8e19SR54qd00fAIXjnzw","checkout_image":"","checkout_address":"","checkout_processing_text":"Donation Processing...","give_version":"3.17.0","cc_fields_format":"multi","card_number_placeholder_text":"Card Number","card_cvc_placeholder_text":"CVC","donate_button_text":"Donate Now","element_font_styles":{"cssSrc":false},"element_base_styles":{"color":"#32325D","fontWeight":500,"fontSize":"16px","fontSmoothing":"antialiased","::placeholder":{"color":"#222222"},":-webkit-autofill":{"color":"#e39f48"}},"element_complete_styles":{},"element_empty_styles":{},"element_invalid_styles":{},"float_labels":"","base_country":"PL","preferred_locale":"en","stripe_card_update":"","stripe_becs_update":""}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://js.stripe.com/v3/?ver=3.17.0" id="give-stripe-js-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/plugins/give/assets/dist/js/give-stripe.js?ver=3.17.0" id="give-stripe-onpage-js-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/plugins/give/assets/dist/js/give-stripe-sepa.js?ver=3.17.0" id="give-stripe-sepa-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/plugins/give/assets/dist/js/give-stripe-becs.js?ver=3.17.0" id="give-stripe-becs-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js?ver=3.7.1" id="jquery-core-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-includes/js/dist/hooks.min.js?ver=4d63a3d491d11ffd8ac6" id="wp-hooks-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-includes/js/dist/i18n.min.js?ver=5e580eb46a90c2b997e6" id="wp-i18n-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="wp-i18n-js-after"> /* <![CDATA[ */ wp.i18n.setLocaleData( { 'text direction\u0004ltr': [ 'ltr' ] } ); /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" id="give-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var give_global_vars = {"ajaxurl":"https:\/\/vsquare.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","checkout_nonce":"a30ffc6411","currency":"PLN","currency_sign":"z\u0142","currency_pos":"after","thousands_separator":" ","decimal_separator":",","no_gateway":"Please select a payment method.","bad_minimum":"The minimum custom donation amount for this form is","bad_maximum":"The maximum custom donation amount for this form is","general_loading":"Loading...","purchase_loading":"Please Wait...","textForOverlayScreen":"<h3>Processing...<\/h3><p>This will only take a second!<\/p>","number_decimals":"2","is_test_mode":"","give_version":"3.17.0","magnific_options":{"main_class":"give-modal","close_on_bg_click":false},"form_translation":{"payment-mode":"Please select payment mode.","give_first":"Please enter your first name.","give_last":"Please enter your last name.","give_email":"Please enter a valid email address.","give_user_login":"Invalid email address or username.","give_user_pass":"Enter a password.","give_user_pass_confirm":"Enter the password confirmation.","give_agree_to_terms":"You must agree to the terms and conditions."},"confirm_email_sent_message":"Please check your email and click on the link to access your complete donation history.","ajax_vars":{"ajaxurl":"https:\/\/vsquare.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","ajaxNonce":"db095b23e9","loading":"Loading","select_option":"Please select an option","default_gateway":"stripe","permalinks":"1","number_decimals":2},"cookie_hash":"5291778e5707f442b0b6ae3af495f1d3","session_nonce_cookie_name":"wp-give_session_reset_nonce_5291778e5707f442b0b6ae3af495f1d3","session_cookie_name":"wp-give_session_5291778e5707f442b0b6ae3af495f1d3","delete_session_nonce_cookie":"0"}; var giveApiSettings = {"root":"https:\/\/vsquare.org\/wp-json\/give-api\/v2\/","rest_base":"give-api\/v2"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/plugins/give/assets/dist/js/give.js?ver=551bf44de7d34e92" id="give-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="give_recurring_script-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var Give_Recurring_Vars = {"email_access":"1","pretty_intervals":{"1":"Every","2":"Every two","3":"Every three","4":"Every four","5":"Every five","6":"Every six"},"pretty_periods":{"day":"Daily","week":"Weekly","month":"Monthly","quarter":"Quarterly","half-year":"Semi-Annually","year":"Yearly"},"messages":{"daily_forbidden":"The selected payment method does not support daily recurring giving. Please select another payment method or supported giving frequency.","confirm_cancel":"Are you sure you want to cancel this subscription?"},"multi_level_message_pre_text":"You have chosen to donate"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/plugins/give-recurring/assets/js/give-recurring.min.js?ver=2.9.0" id="give_recurring_script-js"></script> <link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://vsquare.org/wp-json/" /><link rel="alternate" title="JSON" type="application/json" href="https://vsquare.org/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/6121" /><link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" title="RSD" href="https://vsquare.org/xmlrpc.php?rsd" /> <meta name="generator" content="WordPress 6.7.1" /> <link rel='shortlink' href='https://vsquare.org/?p=6121' /> <link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (JSON)" type="application/json+oembed" href="https://vsquare.org/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvsquare.org%2Frussian-diplomats-with-gru-ties-espionage-hungary-budapest%2F" /> <link rel="preconnect" href="//www.googletagmanager.com/"> <link rel="preconnect" href="//s3.amazonaws.com/"> <link rel="preconnect" href="//play.ht/"> <link rel="preconnect" href="//static.play.ht/"> <link rel="preconnect" href="//a.play.ht/"> <link rel="preconnect" href="//media.play.ht/"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//www.googletagmanager.com/"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//s3.amazonaws.com/"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//play.ht/"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//static.play.ht/"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//a.play.ht/"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//media.play.ht/"> <meta name="generator" content="Give v3.17.0" /> <style>.cmplz-hidden { display: none !important; }</style> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="v5XTqaMM0XZvQs3q-iSKFZcewztNjgZoEs5_RJhnvRU" />  <script type="text/plain" data-service="google-analytics" data-category="statistics"> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-107560846-2', 'auto'); ga('require', 'linkid'); ga('set', 'anonymizeIp', true); ga('set', 'forceSSL', true); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> <script id="mcjs">!function(c,h,i,m,p){m=c.createElement(h),p=c.getElementsByTagName(h)[0],m.async=1,m.src=i,p.parentNode.insertBefore(m,p)}(document,"script","https://chimpstatic.com/mcjs-connected/js/users/b303466c59f1b69eba50b2666/40828903f216206e68c93fa33.js");</script> </head> <body data-cmplz=1 class="post-template-default single single-post postid-6121 single-format-standard give-recurring"> <header> <a class="logo" href="https://vsquare.org"> <img width="300" height="61" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/logo.svg" class="attachment-medium size-medium" alt="" loading="eager" decoding="async" /> </a> <div class="right"> <div class="right-up"> <div class="mobile open-menu"> <span></span> <span></span> <span></span> </div> <nav class="mobile"> <span class="close"></span> <div class="menu-menu-container"><ul id="menu-menu" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-2210" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-has-children menu-item-2210"><a href="https://vsquare.org/category/investigations/">Investigations<b></b></a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-2211" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-2211"><a href="https://vsquare.org/category/investigations/exclusive-investigations/">Our Investigations<b></b></a></li> <li id="menu-item-2213" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-2213"><a href="https://vsquare.org/category/investigations/republications/">More From Our Partners<b></b></a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-3218" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-has-children menu-item-3218"><a href="https://vsquare.org/category/more-from-the-region/">More from the Region<b></b></a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-2215" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-2215"><a href="https://vsquare.org/category/more-from-the-region/analyses/">Analyses<b></b></a></li> <li id="menu-item-2216" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-2216"><a href="https://vsquare.org/category/more-from-the-region/news/">News<b></b></a></li> <li id="menu-item-2217" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-2217"><a href="https://vsquare.org/category/more-from-the-region/interviews/">Interviews<b></b></a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-2478" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-2478"><a href="https://vsquare.org/category/goulash-newsletter/">Goulash Newsletter<b></b></a></li> <li id="menu-item-2218" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-2218"><a>Our Focus<b></b></a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-2219" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-2219"><a href="https://vsquare.org/tag/crime-and-corruption/">#Crime and Corruption<b></b></a></li> <li id="menu-item-2220" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-2220"><a href="https://vsquare.org/tag/disinformation/">#Disinformation<b></b></a></li> <li id="menu-item-2221" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-2221"><a href="https://vsquare.org/tag/environment/">#Environment<b></b></a></li> <li id="menu-item-2222" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-2222"><a href="https://vsquare.org/tag/politics/">#Politics<b></b></a></li> <li id="menu-item-2223" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-2223"><a href="https://vsquare.org/tag/russian-influence/">#Russian Influence<b></b></a></li> <li id="menu-item-2224" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-2224"><a href="https://vsquare.org/tag/war-in-ukraine/">#War in Ukraine<b></b></a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-36" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page current-post-parent menu-item-has-children menu-item-36"><a href="https://vsquare.org/about-us/">Who We Are<b></b></a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-1928" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1928"><a href="https://vsquare.org/about-us/core-team-and-core-partners/">Our Team<b></b></a></li> <li id="menu-item-1927" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1927"><a href="https://vsquare.org/about-us/partners-and-donors/">Networks and Donors<b></b></a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-1930" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1930"><a href="https://vsquare.org/contact/">Contact<b></b></a></li> </ul></div> </nav> <b></b> <img id="open-search" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/loup.svg" alt="Search"> </div> <div class="right-down"> <div class="desktop open-menu"> <span></span> <span></span> <span></span> </div> <nav class="desktop"> <span class="close"></span> <div class="menu-menu-container"><ul id="menu-menu-1" class="menu"><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-has-children menu-item-2210"><a href="https://vsquare.org/category/investigations/">Investigations<b></b></a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-2211"><a href="https://vsquare.org/category/investigations/exclusive-investigations/">Our Investigations<b></b></a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-2213"><a href="https://vsquare.org/category/investigations/republications/">More From Our Partners<b></b></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-has-children menu-item-3218"><a href="https://vsquare.org/category/more-from-the-region/">More from the Region<b></b></a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-2215"><a href="https://vsquare.org/category/more-from-the-region/analyses/">Analyses<b></b></a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-2216"><a href="https://vsquare.org/category/more-from-the-region/news/">News<b></b></a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-2217"><a href="https://vsquare.org/category/more-from-the-region/interviews/">Interviews<b></b></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-2478"><a href="https://vsquare.org/category/goulash-newsletter/">Goulash Newsletter<b></b></a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-2218"><a>Our Focus<b></b></a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-2219"><a href="https://vsquare.org/tag/crime-and-corruption/">#Crime and Corruption<b></b></a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-2220"><a href="https://vsquare.org/tag/disinformation/">#Disinformation<b></b></a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-2221"><a href="https://vsquare.org/tag/environment/">#Environment<b></b></a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-2222"><a href="https://vsquare.org/tag/politics/">#Politics<b></b></a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-2223"><a href="https://vsquare.org/tag/russian-influence/">#Russian Influence<b></b></a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-2224"><a href="https://vsquare.org/tag/war-in-ukraine/">#War in Ukraine<b></b></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page current-post-parent menu-item-has-children menu-item-36"><a href="https://vsquare.org/about-us/">Who We Are<b></b></a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1928"><a href="https://vsquare.org/about-us/core-team-and-core-partners/">Our Team<b></b></a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1927"><a href="https://vsquare.org/about-us/partners-and-donors/">Networks and Donors<b></b></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1930"><a href="https://vsquare.org/contact/">Contact<b></b></a></li> </ul></div> </nav> <div class="social-media"> <a target="" href="https://vsquare.org/newsletter/"> <img width="150" height="150" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Untitled-design-1.svg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" loading="eager" style="width:100px; height:100px;" decoding="async" /> </a> <a target="" href="https://twitter.com/Vsquare_Project"> <img width="150" height="150" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Untitled-design-4.svg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" loading="eager" style="width:100px; height:100px;" decoding="async" /> </a> <a target="" href="https://www.facebook.com/VSquare-506182003078568"> <img width="62" height="150" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/facebook.svg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" loading="eager" style="width:7px; height:17px;" decoding="async" /> </a> </div> <a class="link" target="" href="https://vsquare.org/donate/">donate</a> </div> </div> </header> <article> <link rel="preload" href="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1-400x167.jpg" as="image"> <section class="section-banner-posts"> <img width="1500" height="625" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1.jpg" class="desktop" alt="" loading="eager" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1.jpg 1500w, https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1-300x125.jpg 300w, https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1-1024x427.jpg 1024w, https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1-768x320.jpg 768w, https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1-400x167.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /> <img width="768" height="320" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1-768x320.jpg" class="mobile" alt="" loading="eager" decoding="async" srcset="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1-768x320.jpg 768w, https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1-300x125.jpg 300w, https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1-1024x427.jpg 1024w, https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1-400x167.jpg 400w, https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /> <img width="400" height="167" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1-400x167.jpg" class="mobile-small" alt="" loading="eager" decoding="async" srcset="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1-400x167.jpg 400w, https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1-300x125.jpg 300w, https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1-1024x427.jpg 1024w, https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1-768x320.jpg 768w, https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/forum-0658278583-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /> <div class="title"> <div class="tags-post"> <a href="https://vsquare.org/tag/russian-influence/">#RUSSIAN INFLUENCE</a> </div> <h1 class="many">Russian Diplomats with GRU Ties: Hungary’s Special Guests</h1> </div> </section> <section class="section-desc"> <div class="container"> <div class="left-column"> <div class="details"> <b></b> <small>Szabolcs Panyi (VSquare)</small> <small>2024-10-15</small> <div class="category"> <a href="https://vsquare.org/category/more-from-the-region/"> <small>More from the Region</small> </a> <a class="sub-category" href="https://vsquare.org/category/more-from-the-region/analyses/"> <small>Analyses</small> </a> </div> <div class="social-media"> <a class="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://vsquare.org/russian-diplomats-with-gru-ties-espionage-hungary-budapest/" onclick="javascript:window.open(this.href, '', 'menubar=no,toolbar=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=600,width=600');return false;"> <img src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/facebook.svg" alt="Facebook"> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=https://vsquare.org/russian-diplomats-with-gru-ties-espionage-hungary-budapest/" onclick="javascript:window.open(this.href, '', 'menubar=no,toolbar=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=600,width=600');return false;"> <img src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/twitter.svg" alt="Twitter"> </a> <a class="email" href="126"> <img src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/email.svg" alt="Email"> </a> </div> </div> <div class="tiles"> <div class="element none"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content"> <div class="details"> <small>Szabolcs Panyi (VSquare)</small> <small>2024-10-15</small> <div class="category"> <a class="sub-category" href="https://vsquare.org/category/more-from-the-region/analyses/"> <small>Analyses</small> </a> <a class="" href="https://vsquare.org/category/more-from-the-region/"> <small>More from the Region</small> </a> </div> <div class="social-media"> <a class="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://vsquare.org/russian-diplomats-with-gru-ties-espionage-hungary-budapest/" onclick="javascript:window.open(this.href, '', 'menubar=no,toolbar=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=600,width=600');return false;"> <img src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/facebook.svg" alt="Facebook"> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=https://vsquare.org/russian-diplomats-with-gru-ties-espionage-hungary-budapest/" onclick="javascript:window.open(this.href, '', 'menubar=no,toolbar=no,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes,height=600,width=600');return false;"> <img src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/twitter.svg" alt="Twitter"> </a> <a class="email" href="126"> <img src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/email.svg" alt="Email"> </a> </div> </div> <p><strong>Breaking NATO informal diplomatic protocol, Hungary’s senior army chief engaged in a conversation with Russia’s military attaché at a Chinese diplomatic event, surprising Western allies. While Bratislava, Prague, and Warsaw have all expelled Russia’s GRU-linked military attachés for espionage, Budapest continues to host them. The number of Russian diplomats in Hungary is nearly equal to the total in the other Visegrád countries combined.</strong></p> <div id="playht-iframe-wrapper" style="display:flex; max-height:90px; justify-content:center"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" class="playht-iframe-player" data-appId="oLgMbqUZR1d" article-url="https://vsquare.org/?p=6121" data-voice="en-US-JennyNeural" src="https://play.ht/embed/?article_url=https://vsquare.org/?p=6121&voice=en-US-JennyNeural&config={"width":"100%","height":"90px","alignment":"center","title":"Audio","message":"Hello","download_text_button":"Download"}" width="100%" height="90px" style="max-height:90px"> </iframe> </div> <p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">This story is based on VSquare’s Goulash newsletter – </span></i><a href="https://vsquare.org/goulash-gru-russia-budapest-slovakia-election-hoax/"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">read the full issue here</span></i></a><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> with fresh scoops and a round-up of our latest investigations from Central Europe.</span></i></p> <p dir="ltr">On the evening of September 26, 2024, at the Vígadó Concert Hall on the Pest side of the Danube riverbank, Lieutenant General Ferenc Kajári, deputy chief of the Hungarian General Staff, engaged in a lengthy conversation with Colonel Oleg Smirnov, the military and air attaché of the Russian Federation, during a reception hosted by the People’s Republic of China. In the gilded, chandelier-lit hall of the Vigadó, hundreds of guests, including numerous Hungarian government officials, businessmen, and foreign diplomats, were gathered to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China and the commencement of diplomatic relations between China and Hungary.</p> <p dir="ltr">It was in this crowd that the second-in-command of the Hungarian Armed Forces conversed with the Russian military attaché with remarkable ease – much to the astonishment of several attendees, as well as diplomats who heard about the scene from those present, sources familiar with the incident told VSquare. Since Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022, representatives of the Russian army have been regarded as unacceptable within the Western alliance, and protocol and diplomatic contact with them has nearly ceased.</p> <p>“It caused confusion among NATO allies, as such communication is considered mauvais ton (bad, unacceptable behavior) in their countries,” said one source familiar with the incident. When we described the scene above to an official working at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, they responded, “In general, we find such behavior odd and unwelcome. Plus, with the Russian military attaché of all people? That person is 100 percent GRU!” The NATO official was referring to the fact that Russian military attachés have, as a rule, also been working for the GRU, the Russian military intelligence service, since the Soviet era.</p> <p>It is unclear what topics Lieutenant General Kajári and Colonel Smirnov discussed, or whether they spoke about anything other than farewells and polite well-wishes (as Smirnov had just concluded his mission in Hungary). However, this reception may have been the first opportunity for the leadership of the Hungarian Armed Forces to personally convey their thoughts regarding comments made by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s political director Balázs Orbán (no relation) to the Russian military. The remarks made headlines in the international press a few hours earlier that day.</p> <p>What were those comments? “Every country has the right to decide its own destiny for itself,” <a href="https://apnews.com/article/hungary-orban-russian-invasion-trump-1956-88893d8646cde3988d9e1dd15482dd72" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://apnews.com/article/hungary-orban-russian-invasion-trump-1956-88893d8646cde3988d9e1dd15482dd72">Balázs Orbán said</a> on a podcast, adding, “But based on 1956, we wouldn’t have done what President Zelenskyy did two and a half years ago, because that was irresponsible.” His suggestion that Hungary – unlike Ukraine – wouldn’t defend itself against a Russian invasion caused a significant political scandal, and Balázs Orbán was forced to apologize the next day after Prime Minister Orbán publicly stated that his subordinate had made a mistake.</p> <p>However, it remains unclear whether anyone from the Hungarian government communicated directly with the Russians to inform them that they are not actually welcome to invade – or whether the deputy chief of the Hungarian General Staff took the opportunity to do so at the Chinese reception. It would be quite newsworthy if he did – but even more so if he didn’t.</p> <p>We sent detailed questions to Hungary’s Ministry of Defense regarding the protocol-breaking conversation but have received no reply.</p> <h2><strong>Expelled from elsewhere – not from Budapest</strong></h2> <p dir="ltr">But what are Russian military attachés doing in Budapest in the first place? After Russia’s full-scale invasion, EU and NATO allies expelled hundreds of Russian diplomats for espionage, and GRU-linked Russian military attachés and their deputies were among the first to become personae non grata.</p> <p dir="ltr">When VSquare checked the lists of accredited diplomats in Visegrád countries, we found that Hungary is the only country in the region that still hosts a Russian military attaché. The total number of Russian diplomats in Hungary (45 in Budapest, Szeged and Debrecen) is almost as high as those in the Czech Republic (12), Poland (12 in Warsaw and 11 in other cities), and Slovakia (14) <em>combined</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Moreover, the Hungarian foreign ministry’s diplomatic database – before this article’s publication it was last refreshed on October 14 – lists five Russian military <a href="http://www.kulugyminiszterium.hu/dtwebe/reszletes.aspx?Orszag=Russian%20Federation" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.kulugyminiszterium.hu/dtwebe/reszletes.aspx?Orszag=Russian%20Federation">diplomats in Budapest</a>: one military and defense attaché, two military and air attachés, and two of their deputies. This suggests that both those who officially finished their posting – like the above mentioned Colonel Smirnov – and their incoming replacements still enjoy diplomatic immunity.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to experienced former Hungarian counterintelligence sources, these Russian officers – some of whom spent two or three previous tours in Budapest – are well-known to local security agencies and all work for the GRU.</p> <p>No wonder, then, that Russia’s military intelligence is extremely active in Hungary. In the 2010s, members of the Russian military attaché’s office from Budapest <a href="https://www.direkt36.hu/en/orosz-diplomatakat-ertek-kemkedesen-magyarorszagon-es-szep-csendben-ki-is-szoritottak-oket/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.direkt36.hu/en/orosz-diplomatakat-ertek-kemkedesen-magyarorszagon-es-szep-csendben-ki-is-szoritottak-oket/">trained and helped arm a pro-Russian neo-Nazi paramilitary organization</a>, the Hungarian National Front, which was disbanded after its leader, István Győrkös, killed a police officer with a semi-automatic rifle in 2016. The GRU was also partially behind the <a href="https://www.direkt36.hu/en/orosz-diplomatakat-ertek-kemkedesen-magyarorszagon-es-szep-csendben-ki-is-szoritottak-oket/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.direkt36.hu/en/orosz-diplomatakat-ertek-kemkedesen-magyarorszagon-es-szep-csendben-ki-is-szoritottak-oket/">hacking of the IT systems of the Hungarian foreign ministry.</a></p> <h2><strong>A regional GRU hub</strong></h2> <p>However, the real risk posed by GRU officers operating freely from Hungary is directed at other countries in the region. Last year, VSquare, together with the Investigative Center of Ján Kuciak, <a href="https://vsquare.org/anton-goriev-spy-russia-hungary-slovakia-embassy/">uncovered the activities of Anton Goriev, a GRU officer who operated under diplomatic cover in Hungary</a>, where he infiltrated far-left and far-right groups. Orbán’s government didn’t expel the GRU agent, he finished his posting in Budapest and moved on to Bratislava – eventually, it was the Slovak government that kicked him out after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.</p> <p>“Russians spying on us don’t do it from the Czech Republic, but mostly from Vienna and, to a lesser extent, from Budapest,” a Czech government official dealing with Russia and security issues told VSquare. This is one of the main reasons why the <a href="https://vsquare.org/goulash-visegrad-hungary-slovakia-czech-republic-orban-eu/">Czech government wants to restrict the movement of Russian diplomats</a> and their family members within the Schengen Zone such that they could only go to the countries where they are accredited (individuals otherwise have free movement within the Schengen zone). Countries opposing the Czech initiative include Germany, Italy, Austria, and, of course, Hungary.</p> <p>It’s also worth taking a look at the new Russian military attaché in Budapest, replacing Oleg Smirnov: Alexey Zarudnev, who has previously completed two tours at the Russian embassy in Budapest as a deputy military attaché. He was in this position in October 2014, when two agents from the GRU’s 29155 unit, which specializes in foreign assassinations, <a href="https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2021/04/20/senior-gru-leader-directly-involved-with-czech-arms-depot-explosion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2021/04/20/senior-gru-leader-directly-involved-with-czech-arms-depot-explosion/">made a stopover at the Russian Embassy in Budapest on their way to the Czech Republic.</a> After whatever they did during their stop in Hungary, they subsequently blew up ammunition depots in Vrbětice, killing two people in the attack.</p> <p>“The role of Hungary for Russian intelligence is that this is the place where they have their messengers, operations executive staff, safe houses, or car rentals. It is much more practical to manage these in Hungary, inside the Schengen area, than in the Balkans. There is no way to know exactly how many of these are organized inside Hungary, but the volume is very high,” <a href="https://www.direkt36.hu/en/orosz-diplomatakat-ertek-kemkedesen-magyarorszagon-es-szep-csendben-ki-is-szoritottak-oket/">a former Hungarian security officer explained</a> to this article’s author for a previous Direkt36 investigation into GRU activities in Hungary.</p> <p>“Budapest and the Russian Embassy are important primarily because of their role in logistics and transit. This is because the country’s geographic location makes Hungary a gateway to both the West and the Carpathian Basin. A gateway to both Ukraine and Romania, countries important to the United States, and to the Balkans,” Zsolt Molnar, former Socialist chair of the Hungarian parliament’s national security committee commented at the time.</p> <p><em>Anna Gielewska and Tamara Kaňuchová contributed to this article.</em></p> <p><em>Cover illustration: MOSCOW, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 1, 2022: Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin give a joint press conference following their meeting at the Moscow Kremlin. Mikhail Klimentyev/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS</em></p> <div class="module-item highlighted-text"> <p><strong><br /> Subscribe to “Goulash”, our newsletter with original scoops and the best investigative journalism from Central Europe, written by Szabolcs Panyi. Get it in your inbox every second Thursday!<br /> </strong><script>(function() { window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { listeners: [], forms: { on: function(evt, cb) { window.mc4wp.listeners.push( { event : evt, callback: cb } ); } } } })(); </script><form id="mc4wp-form-1" class="mc4wp-form mc4wp-form-3020" method="post" data-id="3020" data-name="Vsquare Newsletter" ><div class="mc4wp-form-fields"><p> <label>Email address: <input type="email" name="EMAIL" placeholder="Your email address" required /> </label> </p> <p><br> By filling in the data and subscribing to the Newsletter, you consent to the sending of the “Goulash Newsletter” to the e-mail address provided. The data provided in the form will not be used for any other purpose.<br></p> <p> <label> <input type="checkbox" name="AGREE_TO_TERMS" value="1" required=""> I agree <br> </label><br> </p> <p> <input type="submit" value="Sign up" /><br> </p> </div><label style="display: none !important;">Leave this field empty if you're human: <input type="text" name="_mc4wp_honeypot" value="" tabindex="-1" autocomplete="off" /></label><input type="hidden" name="_mc4wp_timestamp" value="1732357705" /><input type="hidden" name="_mc4wp_form_id" value="3020" /><input type="hidden" name="_mc4wp_form_element_id" value="mc4wp-form-1" /><div class="mc4wp-response"></div></form></p> </div> <div class="tags-content"> <a href="https://vsquare.org/tag/espiomats/">#ESPIOMATS</a> <a href="https://vsquare.org/tag/hungary/">#HUNGARY</a> <a href="https://vsquare.org/tag/russian-influence/">#RUSSIAN INFLUENCE</a> </div> <div class="users"> <div class="user"> <div class="image"> <a href="https://vsquare.org/author/spanyi/"> <img width="150" height="150" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-male_Szabolcs-Edited-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-male_Szabolcs-Edited-150x150.jpg 150w, https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-male_Szabolcs-Edited-300x300.jpg 300w, https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-male_Szabolcs-Edited-400x401.jpg 400w, https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cropped-male_Szabolcs-Edited.jpg 557w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> </a> </div> <a href="https://vsquare.org/author/spanyi/"> <strong>Szabolcs Panyi</strong> </a> <p></p> <p>VSquare’s Budapest-based lead investigative editor in charge of Central European investigations, Szabolcs Panyi is also a Hungarian investigative journalist at Direkt36. He covers national security, foreign policy, and Russian and Chinese influence. He was a European Press Prize finalist in 2018 and 2021.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="right-column"> <div class="tiles"> <div class="element none"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </article> <div id="search-modal" class="modal"> <div class="inner"> <label for="search"> <img src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/img/loup.svg" alt="Search"> <input type="text" placeholder="Search" id="search"> </label> <span class="close">×</span> </div> </div> <footer> <div class="footer-up">   <div class="footer-up-medium"> <small>©VSQUARE.ORG 2024</small> <a class="link" target="" href="https://vsquare.org/privacy-policy/">Privacy Policy</a> </div> <div class="footer-up-right"> <small>FOLLOW US</small> <div class="social-media"> <a target="" href="https://vsquare.org/newsletter/"> <img width="150" height="150" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Untitled-design-1.svg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" loading="eager" style="width:100px; height:100px;" decoding="async" /> </a> <a target="" href="https://twitter.com/Vsquare_Project"> <img width="150" height="150" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Untitled-design-4.svg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" loading="eager" style="width:100px; height:100px;" decoding="async" /> </a> <a target="" href="https://www.facebook.com/VSquare-506182003078568"> <img width="62" height="150" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/facebook.svg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" loading="eager" style="width:7px; height:17px;" decoding="async" /> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="footer-bottom"> <p>We believe in the free flow of information and so publish under a <strong>Creative Commons – Attribution 4.0 International</strong> license. This means you can republish our articles online or in print for free, provided you comply with <strong>CC BY 4.0</strong> rules and so publish this article under.</p> </div> </footer> <script>document.querySelectorAll('.playHtListenArea').forEach(function(el) {el.style.display = 'block'});</script><script>(function() {function maybePrefixUrlField () { const value = this.value.trim() if (value !== '' && value.indexOf('http') !== 0) { this.value = 'http://' + value } } const urlFields = document.querySelectorAll('.mc4wp-form input[type="url"]') for (let j = 0; j < urlFields.length; j++) { urlFields[j].addEventListener('blur', maybePrefixUrlField) } })();</script>  <div id="cmplz-cookiebanner-container"><div class="cmplz-cookiebanner cmplz-hidden banner-1 bottom-right-view-preferences optin cmplz-bottom-right cmplz-categories-type-view-preferences" aria-modal="true" data-nosnippet="true" role="dialog" aria-live="polite" aria-labelledby="cmplz-header-1-optin" aria-describedby="cmplz-message-1-optin"> <div class="cmplz-header"> <div class="cmplz-logo"></div> <div class="cmplz-title" id="cmplz-header-1-optin">Manage Cookie Consent</div> <div class="cmplz-close" tabindex="0" role="button" aria-label="Close dialog"> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" data-prefix="fas" data-icon="times" class="svg-inline--fa fa-times fa-w-11" role="img" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 352 512"><path fill="currentColor" d="M242.72 256l100.07-100.07c12.28-12.28 12.28-32.19 0-44.48l-22.24-22.24c-12.28-12.28-32.19-12.28-44.48 0L176 189.28 75.93 89.21c-12.28-12.28-32.19-12.28-44.48 0L9.21 111.45c-12.28 12.28-12.28 32.19 0 44.48L109.28 256 9.21 356.07c-12.28 12.28-12.28 32.19 0 44.48l22.24 22.24c12.28 12.28 32.2 12.28 44.48 0L176 322.72l100.07 100.07c12.28 12.28 32.2 12.28 44.48 0l22.24-22.24c12.28-12.28 12.28-32.19 0-44.48L242.72 256z"></path></svg> </div> </div> <div class="cmplz-divider cmplz-divider-header"></div> <div class="cmplz-body"> <div class="cmplz-message" id="cmplz-message-1-optin">To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.</div>  <div class="cmplz-categories"> <details class="cmplz-category cmplz-functional" > <summary> <span class="cmplz-category-header"> <span class="cmplz-category-title">Functional</span> <span class='cmplz-always-active'> <span class="cmplz-banner-checkbox"> <input type="checkbox" id="cmplz-functional-optin" data-category="cmplz_functional" class="cmplz-consent-checkbox cmplz-functional" size="40" value="1"/> <label class="cmplz-label" for="cmplz-functional-optin" tabindex="0"><span class="screen-reader-text">Functional</span></label> </span> Always active </span> <span class="cmplz-icon cmplz-open"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 448 512" height="18" ><path d="M224 416c-8.188 0-16.38-3.125-22.62-9.375l-192-192c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.75 0-45.25s32.75-12.5 45.25 0L224 338.8l169.4-169.4c12.5-12.5 32.75-12.5 45.25 0s12.5 32.75 0 45.25l-192 192C240.4 412.9 232.2 416 224 416z"/></svg> </span> </span> </summary> <div class="cmplz-description"> <span class="cmplz-description-functional">The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.</span> </div> </details> <details class="cmplz-category cmplz-preferences" > <summary> <span class="cmplz-category-header"> <span class="cmplz-category-title">Preferences</span> <span class="cmplz-banner-checkbox"> <input type="checkbox" id="cmplz-preferences-optin" data-category="cmplz_preferences" class="cmplz-consent-checkbox cmplz-preferences" size="40" value="1"/> <label class="cmplz-label" for="cmplz-preferences-optin" tabindex="0"><span class="screen-reader-text">Preferences</span></label> </span> <span class="cmplz-icon cmplz-open"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 448 512" height="18" ><path d="M224 416c-8.188 0-16.38-3.125-22.62-9.375l-192-192c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.75 0-45.25s32.75-12.5 45.25 0L224 338.8l169.4-169.4c12.5-12.5 32.75-12.5 45.25 0s12.5 32.75 0 45.25l-192 192C240.4 412.9 232.2 416 224 416z"/></svg> </span> </span> </summary> <div class="cmplz-description"> <span class="cmplz-description-preferences">The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.</span> </div> </details> <details class="cmplz-category cmplz-statistics" > <summary> <span class="cmplz-category-header"> <span class="cmplz-category-title">Statistics</span> <span class="cmplz-banner-checkbox"> <input type="checkbox" id="cmplz-statistics-optin" data-category="cmplz_statistics" class="cmplz-consent-checkbox cmplz-statistics" size="40" value="1"/> <label class="cmplz-label" for="cmplz-statistics-optin" tabindex="0"><span class="screen-reader-text">Statistics</span></label> </span> <span class="cmplz-icon cmplz-open"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 448 512" height="18" ><path d="M224 416c-8.188 0-16.38-3.125-22.62-9.375l-192-192c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.75 0-45.25s32.75-12.5 45.25 0L224 338.8l169.4-169.4c12.5-12.5 32.75-12.5 45.25 0s12.5 32.75 0 45.25l-192 192C240.4 412.9 232.2 416 224 416z"/></svg> </span> </span> </summary> <div class="cmplz-description"> <span class="cmplz-description-statistics">The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.</span> <span class="cmplz-description-statistics-anonymous">The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.</span> </div> </details> <details class="cmplz-category cmplz-marketing" > <summary> <span class="cmplz-category-header"> <span class="cmplz-category-title">Marketing</span> <span class="cmplz-banner-checkbox"> <input type="checkbox" id="cmplz-marketing-optin" data-category="cmplz_marketing" class="cmplz-consent-checkbox cmplz-marketing" size="40" value="1"/> <label class="cmplz-label" for="cmplz-marketing-optin" tabindex="0"><span class="screen-reader-text">Marketing</span></label> </span> <span class="cmplz-icon cmplz-open"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 448 512" height="18" ><path d="M224 416c-8.188 0-16.38-3.125-22.62-9.375l-192-192c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.75 0-45.25s32.75-12.5 45.25 0L224 338.8l169.4-169.4c12.5-12.5 32.75-12.5 45.25 0s12.5 32.75 0 45.25l-192 192C240.4 412.9 232.2 416 224 416z"/></svg> </span> </span> </summary> <div class="cmplz-description"> <span class="cmplz-description-marketing">The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.</span> </div> </details> </div> </div> <div class="cmplz-links cmplz-information"> <a class="cmplz-link cmplz-manage-options cookie-statement" href="#" data-relative_url="#cmplz-manage-consent-container">Manage options</a> <a class="cmplz-link cmplz-manage-third-parties cookie-statement" href="#" data-relative_url="#cmplz-cookies-overview">Manage services</a> <a class="cmplz-link cmplz-manage-vendors tcf cookie-statement" href="#" data-relative_url="#cmplz-tcf-wrapper">Manage {vendor_count} vendors</a> <a class="cmplz-link cmplz-external cmplz-read-more-purposes tcf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://cookiedatabase.org/tcf/purposes/">Read more about these purposes</a> </div> <div class="cmplz-divider cmplz-footer"></div> <div class="cmplz-buttons"> <button class="cmplz-btn cmplz-accept">Accept</button> <button class="cmplz-btn cmplz-deny">Deny</button> <button class="cmplz-btn cmplz-view-preferences">View preferences</button> <button class="cmplz-btn cmplz-save-preferences">Save preferences</button> <a class="cmplz-btn cmplz-manage-options tcf cookie-statement" href="#" data-relative_url="#cmplz-manage-consent-container">View preferences</a> </div> <div class="cmplz-links cmplz-documents"> <a class="cmplz-link cookie-statement" href="#" data-relative_url="">{title}</a> <a class="cmplz-link privacy-statement" href="#" data-relative_url="">{title}</a> <a class="cmplz-link impressum" href="#" data-relative_url="">{title}</a> </div> </div> </div> <div id="cmplz-manage-consent" data-nosnippet="true"><button class="cmplz-btn cmplz-hidden cmplz-manage-consent manage-consent-1">Manage Consent</button> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var give_cs_json_obj = 'null'; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" id="give-donation-summary-script-frontend-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var GiveDonationSummaryData = {"currencyPrecisionLookup":{"USD":2,"EUR":2,"GBP":2,"AUD":2,"BRL":2,"CAD":2,"CZK":2,"DKK":2,"HKD":2,"HUF":2,"ILS":2,"JPY":0,"MYR":2,"MXN":2,"MAD":2,"NZD":2,"NOK":2,"PHP":2,"PLN":2,"SGD":2,"KRW":0,"ZAR":2,"SEK":2,"CHF":2,"TWD":2,"THB":2,"INR":2,"TRY":2,"IRR":2,"RUB":2,"AED":2,"AMD":2,"ANG":2,"ARS":2,"AWG":2,"BAM":2,"BDT":2,"BHD":3,"BMD":2,"BND":2,"BOB":2,"BSD":2,"BWP":2,"BZD":2,"CLP":0,"CNY":2,"COP":2,"CRC":2,"CUC":2,"CUP":2,"DOP":2,"EGP":2,"GIP":2,"GTQ":2,"HNL":2,"HRK":2,"IDR":2,"ISK":0,"JMD":2,"JOD":2,"KES":2,"KWD":2,"KYD":2,"MKD":2,"NPR":2,"OMR":3,"PEN":2,"PKR":2,"RON":2,"SAR":2,"SZL":2,"TOP":2,"TZS":2,"UAH":2,"UYU":2,"VEF":2,"XCD":2,"AFN":2,"ALL":2,"AOA":2,"AZN":2,"BBD":2,"BGN":2,"BIF":0,"XBT":8,"BTN":1,"BYR":2,"BYN":2,"CDF":2,"CVE":2,"DJF":0,"DZD":2,"ERN":2,"ETB":2,"FJD":2,"FKP":2,"GEL":2,"GGP":2,"GHS":2,"GMD":2,"GNF":0,"GYD":2,"HTG":2,"IMP":2,"IQD":2,"IRT":2,"JEP":2,"KGS":2,"KHR":0,"KMF":2,"KPW":0,"KZT":2,"LAK":0,"LBP":2,"LKR":0,"LRD":2,"LSL":2,"LYD":3,"MDL":2,"MGA":0,"MMK":2,"MNT":2,"MOP":2,"MRO":2,"MUR":2,"MVR":1,"MWK":2,"MZN":0,"NAD":2,"NGN":2,"NIO":2,"PAB":2,"PGK":2,"PRB":2,"PYG":2,"QAR":2,"RSD":2,"RWF":2,"SBD":2,"SCR":2,"SDG":2,"SHP":2,"SLL":2,"SOS":2,"SRD":2,"SSP":2,"STD":2,"SYP":2,"TJS":2,"TMT":2,"TND":3,"TTD":2,"UGX":2,"UZS":2,"VND":1,"VUV":0,"WST":2,"XAF":2,"XOF":2,"XPF":2,"YER":2,"ZMW":2},"recurringLabelLookup":{"day":"Daily","week":"Weekly","month":"Monthly","quarter":"Quarterly","half-year":"Semi-Annually","year":"Yearly"}}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/plugins/give/assets/dist/js/give-donation-summary.js?ver=3.17.0" id="give-donation-summary-script-frontend-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="give-currency-switcher-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var give_currency_switcher = {"nonce":"eea82fd471","notice_dismiss_image":"https:\/\/vsquare.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/give\/assets\/dist\/images\/close.svg","currency_not_support_message":"<b>{currency_code}<\/b> is not supported by <b>{payment_gateway}<\/b> gateway.","cs_custom_price_message":"","setting_vars":{"base_currency":"PLN"}}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/plugins/give-currency-switcher/assets/js/give-currency-switcher-frontend.min.js?ver=2.1.0" id="give-currency-switcher-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/plugins/page-links-to/dist/new-tab.js?ver=3.3.7" id="page-links-to-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="playht-pageplayer-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var image_page_player = {"image_params":"https:\/\/vsquare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/forum-0658278583-1.jpg"}; var wppp_page_player = {"current_article_play_data":{"url":"https:\/\/vsquare.org\/?p=6121","lang":"","voice":"en-US-JennyNeural","trans_id":"-O9Fjxm0Bsgsuad-MZ1m","audio_status":2,"listens":0,"convertion_time":"2024-10-15 15:15:46","play_article_id":"fe1080c3-a021-4dd5-9cc4-d78d8d13ed85","article_audio":"https:\/\/media.play.ht\/full_-O9Fjxm0Bsgsuad-MZ1m.mp3?generation=1729005379633618&alt=media"},"current_article_data":{"ID":6121,"post_author":"14","post_date":"2024-10-15 15:20:49","post_date_gmt":"2024-10-15 13:20:49","post_title":"Russian Diplomats with GRU Ties: Hungary\u2019s Special Guests","post_excerpt":"Breaking NATO informal diplomatic protocol, Hungary's senior army chief engaged in a conversation with Russia's military attach\u00e9 at a Chinese diplomatic event, surprising Western allies. While Bratislava, Prague, and Warsaw have all expelled Russia\u2019s GRU-linked military attach\u00e9s for espionage, Budapest continues to host them. The number of Russian diplomats in Hungary is nearly equal to the total in the other Visegr\u00e1d countries combined.","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"russian-diplomats-with-gru-ties-espionage-hungary-budapest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-15 17:14:41","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-15 15:14:41","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/vsquare.org\/?p=6121","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}}; var wppp_user_data = {"user_id":"yBsue3SvYCOJoy5UtgZHRahhrDg1","app_id":"oLgMbqUZR1d","ajax_url":"https:\/\/vsquare.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","playhtButtonSwitch":"","playhtListenbuttonSwitch":"0","playHtbuttonWLabel":"","playHtcolor_backgrund":"#222","playHttextColor":"#fff","FielddesktopPositionID":"right","FieldmobilePositionID":"right","playHtDarkMode":"0","playHtPlayerItemsColor":"#fff","playHtPlayerTextColor":"#fff","playHtPlayerBackgroundColor":"#222","fullScreenMobEnabledID":"1","playHtListencolor_backgrund":"#222","playHtListenBorderColor":"#222","playHtListenBorderRadius":"2","playHtListenText":"Listen","playHtListentextColor":"#fff","playhtPlayerType":"pp"}; var wppp_player_images = {"close":"https:\/\/vsquare.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/play-ht\/assets\/images\/close.png","loader":"https:\/\/vsquare.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/play-ht\/assets\/images\/loader.gif","play_btn":"https:\/\/vsquare.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/play-ht\/assets\/images\/play-btn.png","pause_btn":"https:\/\/vsquare.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/play-ht\/assets\/images\/pause-btn.png","pageplayer_placeholder":"https:\/\/vsquare.org\/wp-content\/plugins\/play-ht\/assets\/images\/pageplayer_placeholder.png"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" data-minify="0" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/plugins/play-ht/assets/dist/js/pageplayer.js?ver=3.6.4" id="playht-pageplayer-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="cmplz-cookiebanner-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var complianz = {"prefix":"cmplz_","user_banner_id":"1","set_cookies":[],"block_ajax_content":"","banner_version":"26","version":"7.1.4","store_consent":"","do_not_track_enabled":"","consenttype":"optin","region":"eu","geoip":"","dismiss_timeout":"","disable_cookiebanner":"","soft_cookiewall":"","dismiss_on_scroll":"","cookie_expiry":"365","url":"https:\/\/vsquare.org\/wp-json\/complianz\/v1\/","locale":"lang=en&locale=en_US","set_cookies_on_root":"","cookie_domain":"","current_policy_id":"17","cookie_path":"\/","categories":{"statistics":"statistics","marketing":"marketing"},"tcf_active":"","placeholdertext":"Click to accept {category} cookies and enable this content","css_file":"https:\/\/vsquare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/complianz\/css\/banner-{banner_id}-{type}.css?v=26","page_links":{"eu":{"cookie-statement":{"title":"Privacy Policy","url":"https:\/\/vsquare.org\/privacy-policy\/"}}},"tm_categories":"","forceEnableStats":"","preview":"","clean_cookies":"","aria_label":"Click to accept {category} cookies and enable this content"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script defer type="text/javascript" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/plugins/complianz-gdpr/cookiebanner/js/complianz.min.js?ver=1730277642" id="cmplz-cookiebanner-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/themes/vsquare/js/scripts.js?vr=1.34&ver=6.7.1" id="custom-scripts-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" defer src="https://vsquare.org/wp-content/plugins/mailchimp-for-wp/assets/js/forms.js?ver=4.9.18" id="mc4wp-forms-api-js"></script>  <script type="text/plain" data-category="statistics">window['gtag_enable_tcf_support'] = false; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', '', { cookie_flags:'secure;samesite=none', 'anonymize_ip': true }); </script></body> </html>