🇺🇦🧵⬇️ 1/12 Thirty years ago today, Ukraine signed the Budapest Memorandum, giving up the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal in exchange for hollow “assurances” of sovereignty. Three decades later, it stands as a warning: disarmament without guarantees is suicidal. Here’s why: 2/12 In 1994, Ukraine handed over 1,900 nuclear warheads, trusting “assurances” from Russia, the US, and the UK to respect its borders. These weren’t binding guarantees—just diplomatic niceties. Ukraine traded its shield for promises that have proven worthless.

🧵⬇️ 1/15 Breaking: Declassified intelligence reports reveal the scope of hybrid warfare tactics and disinformation campaigns involving Călin Georgescu. The findings include foreign interference, social media manipulation, and potential cybersecurity breaches. Here’s the breakdow 2/15 SIE Insights: The SIE highlights Romania as a target for Russian hybrid operations. Tactics include AI-driven propaganda, candidate support in elections, and social unrest aimed at weakening NATO's Eastern Flank and reducing public support for Ukraine.

🇺🇸🧵⬇️ 1/8 Breaking: Satirical news outlet The Onion has acquired Alex Jones' Infowars at a bankruptcy auction, with financial backing from families of Sandy Hook victims, marking a striking turn in the defamation saga that has gripped the nation. Here's the story: 2/8 Alex Jones owes Sandy Hook families over $1B in defamation judgments after calling the 2012 school shooting a "hoax." The auction of Infowars, including its platform, trademarks, and archives, is part of efforts to dissolve his assets for restitution.

🇭🇺 1/20 Péter Schatz, a central figure in Orbán’s media strategy, has become a powerful player in Hungary’s Balkan influence efforts. With investments across Slovenia 🇸🇮, North Macedonia 🇲🇰, and beyond, Schatz’s media empire serves a nationalist agenda—here’s the full story. 🇭🇺🇸🇮 2/20 Schatz, former MTVA executive, operates media outlets in Slovenia 🇸🇮, North Macedonia 🇲🇰, and Croatia 🇭🇷, funded by interests tied to Orbán. These channels echo Orbán’s hardline stance on migration, EU, and nationalism—shaping regional discourse in Hungary’s image.

During his speech on the 68th anniversary of the 1956 revolution, Orbán highlighted the following key points: Opposition:

Orbán criticizes the Hungarian opposition throughout his speech, accusing them of betraying the nation by siding with foreign powers, particularly Brussels. He compares today’s opposition to the communists of 1956, suggesting they, like their predecessors, are willing to sell out Hungary’s interests for foreign support. He claims that they are calling for Hungary to join the war against Russia by supporting Ukraine and that their actions threaten Hungary’s sovereignty. Specifically, Orbán states that the opposition believes Hungary should fight “for Ukraine, even in Ukraine,” whereas his government believes that Hungary should only fight for “Hungary and Hungarian freedom.” He further claims that the opposition, both old and new, has always been on the side of foreign powers, and he contrasts this with his government’s defense of national interests.

Orbán also asserts that the opposition leader is allied with figures like Manfred Weber in Brussels, suggesting an unholy alliance between them to undermine Hungary’s sovereignty. He accuses the opposition of being part of a conspiracy to replace the current government with a “puppet government” controlled by Brussels.

Not even once did he say Péter Magyar’s name…

❗️🇭🇺🗞️ 1/8 The recent overhaul within the Hungarian military have drawn widespread attention and criticism, reflecting deeper concerns about the government's approach to state institutions. In early 2023, the Hungarian Defense Ministry, led by Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, initiated a broad and sudden dismissal of senior military officers, reportedly targeting those over 45 years of age who had served for more than 25 years. This decision, which affected hundreds of high-ranking personnel, has sparked debate over its true motives. 2/8 Critics, including opposition figures like Ágnes Vadai, have described the move as a "political purge," suggesting that the government is systematically removing individuals who might resist its agenda. This perspective is fueled by the fact that many of the dismissed officers had extensive international experience, including stints in NATO missions. By removing these individuals, there is concern that the government is weakening the military's connections to NATO, aligning it more closely with Hungary's controversial foreign policy stance, which has often been at odds with Western allies due to its favorable relations with Russia.

📢 Opinion piece. 1/n

A word that the right wing doesn’t know: pragmatism.

The modern right-wing political movement often finds itself torn between ideological purity and the practicality of addressing complex societal issues. This friction between principle and pragmatism can be observed in various policy areas, including drugs, arms control, abortion, migration, taxes, and the penal system. The lack of pragmatic adaptation within these topics has led to policies that sometimes fail to effectively respond to the challenges of a rapidly changing world. 2/n

Drug policy

One of the areas where right-wing parties have struggled with pragmatism is drug policy. Conservative ideology has often equated any form of drug use with moral decay, prompting strict prohibitions and punitive approaches. However, evidence from countries that have adopted a more pragmatic stance—such as Portugal, which decriminalized most drugs—shows reduced overdose rates, less burden on the criminal justice system, and better public health outcomes. Despite these successes, many right-leaning parties continue to oppose decriminalization or harm-reduction strategies, often overlooking the potential societal benefits of focusing on treatment rather than punishment.

🇭🇺📰 1/6

Recently, Index featured an exclusive interview with Evelin Vogel, the former partner of Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza Party. The context of this interview is significant given the turbulent history of Index. Once a flagship of independent journalism in Hungary, Index underwent substantial changes after its acquisition by oligarchs aligned with the Fidesz party. This shift sparked fears of editorial interference, which culminated in the mass resignation of its staff in 2020. Many journalists feared losing the ability to report freely under the influence of Fidesz. The news outlet has since been accused of shaping its coverage to benefit the ruling party. Moreover, Index had previously targeted Vogel’s family, specifically her mother, making her decision to give an interview to the same outlet especially personal. This history adds another layer to the narrative, raising questions about whether the interview is part of a broader political attack against Magyar.

index.hu/belfold/2024/0… 2/6

In the interview, Vogel accused Péter Magyar of lacking genuine political convictions and pursuing his political ambitions for personal gain rather than a desire for change in Hungary. She described their relationship as tumultuous, recounting moments where she felt emotionally manipulated and fearful. Vogel claimed that during the European Parliamentary campaign, Magyar was inconsistent in his public persona and private actions, furthering her belief that he was more concerned with his own status than the Tisza Party’s ideals.

#MafiaState 1.

In the first episode of #MafiaState, I’d like to introduce Antal Rogán, Orbán’s mostly behind-the-scenes right hand to you.

1/n

2/n

Antal Rogán is a key figure in Hungarian politics, known for his loyalty to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his involvement in several high-profile controversies. He began his political career as the mayor of Budapest’s District 5 (Belváros-Lipótváros) from 2006 to 2014, where his tenure was marred by the “800 property scandal,” also known in Hungarian public life as the Property Panama. This controversy involved the sale of municipal properties at significantly below-market prices to politically connected individuals, raising accusations of corruption.

Properties in one of Budapest’s most expensive districts were sold without proper public tender, resulting in substantial financial losses for the city and considerable personal gains for insiders. This scandal was one of the early indicators of Rogán’s approach to politics, characterized by favoritism, cronyism, and manipulation of public assets for private gain.

🧵1/♾ So, I woke up early to watch a two-hour interview with Putin, and I was astounded by the river of lies.
Putin claimed there was a coup (which there wasn't) and that he had to annex Crimea to protect it. But protect it from what?

Crimea was annexed two days BEFORE the Verkhovna Rada voted for Yanukovych's removal on the 22nd of February 2014.

Moreover, Ukraine didn't start the war in 2014, or at any other time. The conflict actually began on April 12, 2014, when a fifty-man commando unit led by Russian citizen Igor Girkin seized Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast. 🧵2/♾ Here is one of the videos where Igor Girkin is admitting to starting the war.

🇭🇺🇺🇦🇪🇺🧵Viktor Orban's stance towards Ukraine and his insistence on the EU first signing a strategic partnership agreement with Ukraine, instead of beginning membership talks, can be understood in the context of various historical and geopolitical factors, especially his relationship with Russia and domestic political considerations. ⬇️


Historical Context and Domestic Politics:

Orban was initially supportive of a democratic Ukraine with Euro-Atlantic ambitions, but his tone changed after becoming prime minister in 2010. The Hungarian minority in the western Ukrainian region of Transcarpathia has been a point of contention, especially regarding issues like language laws perceived to target this minority. Orban has even called for autonomy and dual citizenship for this minority, leading to accusations of separatism.
Domestically, Orban targets far-right voters in Hungary who dream of a "Greater Hungary" and its pre-1918 boundaries. His statements often resonate with these voters.

🇭🇺🧵1/16 I've put together a 15-point summary of the OSCE's report on Hungary's 2022 election. This is particularly pertinent in light of the numerous comments about 'your country voting for Orbán' that I've come across. The following are the key points summarized: 2/16

Absence of a Level Playing Field: The elections and referendum were marked by an absence of a level playing field, with overlap between the ruling coalition and the government, and a highly negative campaign tone (Section: "In its Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions").

🇭🇺🧵1/8

The activities of the Israeli private intelligence firm Black Cube in Hungary, as reported by Politico and other sources, revolve around a campaign to discredit non-governmental organizations (NGOs) ahead of Hungary’s April election: 2/8

Operation Details:

Black Cube was involved in a campaign between December 2017 and March 2018 targeting Hungarian NGOs and individuals connected to American-Hungarian businessman George Soros. Agents used false identities to secretly record these individuals, and the recordings were later used by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to attack independent civil society organizations. These activities marked the first time Black Cube’s work was allegedly used in the run-up to an election.

This morning I came across this under the tweet of @NAFO_Hungary. NAFO Hungary was expressing how outraged fair-minded Hungarians are about Orbán's recent statements, in which he basically stated that Ukraine is not a sovereign state and that he doesn't consider Putin a war… https://t.co/RlLYWELRZBtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…
I'll start with this for those who haven't seen it yet. It gives a big picture of what kind of media conditions prevail. It greatly contributes to what information reaches people and what does not. In public media, it is NEVER possible for the corruption of the governing party to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Kirill Patriarch wished Viktor Orbán a happy birthday and awarded him with the Order of Glory and Honor, 1st Class.

Translation below in tweets.

444.hu/2023/06/02/kir… 1. Although a bit late, Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, congratulated Viktor Orbán on his 60th birthday and awarded him the Order of "Glory and Honor" First Class. The good relationship may be based on… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

PM Orbán Viktor gave a live interview on the Kossuth Radio morning show from 8:30 am. He discussed the budget, inflation, the war between Russia and Ukraine, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's election victory.

Translation below in Tweets:

telex.hu/belfold/2023/0… 1 "The real losers of the Russian-Ukrainian war are those whose family members die because the front line 'spares neither God nor man,' said Viktor Orbán in his usual Friday statement on Kossuth Radio."

I was watching the debate between @jacksonhinklle and @DrewPavlou, and in this thread, I'm going to elaborate on the false statements. I'll start off with this one. According to Hinkle, the Verkhovna Rada says that in order to impeach the President, a 3/4 majority is required,… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

"BURNT ALIVE IN #ODESSA "
"Ukrainian nationalists locked communist trade union members and protesters in Odesa's TUH and set the building on fire."
"...terrible tragedy, when Ukrainian nationalists burned dozens of their fellow citizens alive in the House of Trade Unions in… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… I would like to direct your focus to two specific aspects of the Council of Europe's investigation:

1. "Other than the fire in the lobby, the fires could only have been started by the acts of those inside the building."

2. "However, there is also footage showing pro-unity… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Hungary's hunger.

A 26-minute report film by Russia Today, in which seemingly ordinary people explain what the average Hungarian's viewpoint is.

BUT! 🧵⬇️ Let's put aside the first couple of minutes for now, about why the entrepreneur doesn't understand in the context of a great deal why the utility bills are seven times higher than before, despite the fact that Hungary is exempt from sanctions (for pipeline gas and crude oil).

Well, Jez, since you are this stupid, let me take the liberty of reacting to that this way, in a long enough 🧵

👇🏻

https://twitter.com/roguebarbarian/status/1651542622110875648

So let's kick shit off with the "14.000 innocent people."

In short, it's Russian bullshit propaganda.

"14,200-14,400 killed (at least 3,404 civilians, estimated 4,400 Ukrainian forces, and estimated 6,500 members of armed groups"

Including deaths resulting from imprudent handling of ammunition or weapons, road incidents, diseases, killings and suicides while on service in the conflict zone