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“Trump is the man who can save the Western world," Orban says in interview with Tucker Carlson
Viktor Orbán urged Americans. to “call back Trump,” in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. According to Hungary's far-right prime minister, “Trump is the man who can save the Western world and probably human beings". After the interview was published the four-times indicted, twice-impeached former president took to Truth Social to thank Orban for the gesture.
The interview was focused on the relationship between the US and Hungary and the war in Ukraine. Carlson presented the interview as a way for American viewers to understand what is happening in Ukraine. The conservative commentator began by saying that everyone in the United States is convinced that Ukraine will win this war:
"It is a lie that the Ukrainians are winning. It's not a misunderstanding, it's a lie," Orban argued, adding that Ukrainian soldiers are simply outnumbered. Orbán noted that the West’s participation is a "bad strategy,” as the Russians “will never give up” and even “if we send more technical equipment, they will produce more.”
The Hungarian PM said he would welcome the return to the foreign policy of Trump, as he “did not initiate any new war” and treated the North Koreans and Russians, even the Chinese, “nicely”. He also highlighted that “His foreign policy was the best one for the world in the last several decades”.
Investigation reveals Hungarian nationals behind Russian disinformation platform
A disinformation platform called NewsFront, which is believed to be controlled by Russian intelligence services, is active again in Hungary. According to the investigative outlet, VSquare, under the management of Hungarian pseudo-expert, Miklós Keveházy, the website has been unable to achieve great reach - the Hungarian version is the least successful as of today.
NewsFront has been present in Hungary since 2018. After a period of inactivity (October 2021 to August 2022), it is back in full operation again. The investigation revealed that the head of the agency is a pro-Russian activist, Konstantin Knyrik. He runs MediaGroup News Front Ltd, registered in the Crimean Peninsula.
One of NewsFront's editors is a Hungarian national, Sándor Csikós, who used to work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Csikos was considered a 'reliable diplomat' in the ministry, even though he was open about his anti-NATO and far-left views.
Russian embassy reacts to textbook scandal
11th graders can learn history from a new textbook in Russia. The new book, prepared under the supervision of Vladimir Megyinsky, one of Vladimir Putin's advisers, rehabilitates Stalin and portrays Putin as the savior of the country. According to Hungarian news outlet G7, the events of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution are described as having been carried out by "rebel radicals, former soldiers of fascist Hungary, who took up arms and committed many murders, including brutal massacres of conscripts".
"Modern Russia has an unchanging respect for the historical memory of the Hungarian people and recognizes that there are complex issues in our common history, including the events of 1956. Therefore, we have always approached the issue with great caution and care, not allowing it to be used for political purposes and to examine the events of the past from today's perspective, out of historical context", the Russian Embassy in Budapest.
IPI: DDoS cyber attacks pose a major threat to media freedom
IPI today warns that an unprecedented wave of cyber-attacks predominantly targeting independent media outlets in Hungary in recent months represents a pressing and growing threat to the free flow of information.
In their statement, IPI highlights that more than 40 Hungarian media outlets that are critical of the government websites were hit by DDoS attacks in the last five months. "Powerful cyber attacks represent a major new threat to media freedom in Hungary," the statement reads.
The majority of portals targeted in the DDoS attacks include many of the country’s leading independent media, including Telex, HVG, 444, Magyar Hang, and Népszava, which are critical of the Orbán government. International media companies hit by hackers include Forbes Hungary. According to IPI, no pro-government media outlet has been targeted in the current wave of attacks.