Another in Orban’s Circle Found to Be Working with Russia’s GRU
Hungarian national security services have reportedly identified Georg Spöttle, a prominent government-aligned pundit and frequent media commentator, as a former agent of Russia’s GRU military intelligence. According to sources familiar with the investigation, Spöttle maintained contact with Colonel Oleg Smirnov, a former Russian military attaché in Budapest, who has now been identified as his handler.
Spöttle has long been positioned as a “security expert” in pro-government outlets and regularly appeared alongside officials from Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party. His public commentary often mirrored Kremlin narratives on Ukraine, NATO, and European security, raising questions in recent years about his affiliations. These suspicions appear to have been confirmed by Hungarian authorities, though no official statement has been released.
The case is linked to broader concerns about Russian influence operations in Hungary. Independent investigations have previously connected Smirnov to GRU Unit 29155, a branch known for operations across Europe, including sabotage and targeted assassinations. Smirnov departed Hungary in 2024, around the same time that Russian hybrid activities—including cyberattacks—intensified in several NATO states.
Photographs circulating online show Spöttle in close proximity to Fidesz officials, suggesting a level of access that extended well beyond media appearances. Opposition figures have called for an investigation into how much Hungarian taxpayer funding may have indirectly supported GRU-linked disinformation efforts.
The revelations follow a wave of domestic protest. On June 10, more than 15,000 demonstrators gathered in central Budapest, criticizing what they described as increasing authoritarianism, state propaganda, and Hungary’s foreign policy orientation. Speakers condemned what they viewed as the government’s growing distance from EU institutions and its repeated use of veto power to block military aid to Ukraine.
The political fallout may not be limited to the street. According to a recent Publicus poll, Fidesz has fallen behind the newly formed opposition party TISZA, led by former government insider Péter Magyar. Among decided voters, TISZA is polling at 43%, compared to 36% for Fidesz—a notable reversal in a country where Orbán has maintained a firm political hold for over a decade.
The government has not confirmed whether Spöttle held security clearance or access to classified information. Nor has it addressed calls to investigate others in his orbit, such as György Nógrádi and László Bogár, both of whom have echoed similar talking points in pro-government media.
The incident is likely to deepen scrutiny from Hungary’s EU and NATO partners, particularly amid concerns over Budapest’s role in delaying alliance decisions. While it remains unclear whether further action will follow, the case adds to a growing list of questions about the extent of Russian influence in Hungary’s public and political life.
