Russian intelligence recruits Hungarian university students for influence network

Hungarian security officials say Russia's foreign intelligence service is systematically targeting ambitious Hungarian university students. A case revealed a student who, while applying for a position in a Hungarian state agency, concealed his close friendship with Alexander V., a diplomat accredited to the Hungarian embassy in Moscow who is suspected of working for Russian intelligence. The undisclosed tie caused the student to fail a national security vetting and lose the job, but the diplomat was not expelled.

The recruitment effort is linked to the Youth World Festival in Sochi, where a Hungarian delegation of about twenty young participants, organized by Hungarian businessman B. Roland, attended in March 2024. Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, used the event to assess participants’ political views and career ambitions, employing digital monitoring and informal gatherings to gauge their susceptibility to influence. The ultimate goal is to build a network of Hungarian and EU decision‑makers aligned with Moscow’s interests.