A Financial Times report has alleged that the Kremlin is backing a covert campaign to keep Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in power, though specific details of the claimed operation were not provided in the available reporting.

Orbán, who has led Hungary since 2010, has maintained closer ties with Russia than most European Union leaders, often opposing EU sanctions against Moscow and blocking military aid to Ukraine. His government has faced criticism from EU partners for its stance on the war in Ukraine and broader foreign policy positions.

The Hungarian Prime Minister's party, Fidesz, has dominated Hungarian politics for over a decade, winning successive parliamentary elections while implementing policies that critics say have undermined democratic institutions and press freedom.

Neither the Hungarian government nor Russian officials were immediately available for comment on the allegations. The report comes amid broader concerns within the EU about Russian influence operations across member states.

Hungary's relationship with Russia has remained a source of tension within the European Union, particularly following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Orbán has consistently called for diplomatic solutions while maintaining economic ties with Moscow.