Category Archives: Russian connection

Russian-led bank rapidly gearing up in Budapest amid EU and U.S. worries

Panyi Szabolcs, Szabó András 2019.04.25. 2 Comments

Nothing can stop the relocation of International Investment Bank, a former Soviet bank that was revived by Russian president Vladimir Putin a few years ago, to Budapest. Meanwhile, Hungary appoints a new director who has been accused of working for the Communist secret service.

Paks 2 is facing a risky modification that could favor the Russians

Szabó András 2019.02.22. 1 Comment

The preliminary ground works could start already before the approval of the overall project plans. This contains serious risks but it would benefit the Russians who have been urging the start of the investment for a long time.

Hungary Buying U.S. Missile System to Mend Ties with Trump Administration

Panyi Szabolcs 2019.02.10. 3 Comments

Hungary and the U.S. are preparing to conclude several significant military-economic deals, according to Direkt36’s sources. However, the acquisition of a U.S. missile system could complicate Russian-Hungarian relations.

Diplomatic Cable Reveals U.S. Frustrated with Orban’s Hungary

Panyi Szabolcs 2019.01.31. 1 Comment

This official document offers an in-depth glimpse into U.S.-Hungarian relations. State Department has stopped calling out Orban for Hungary’s democratic decline but gets little in return. Orban’s statement on Hungary’s neutrality is also mentioned.

Russian diplomats caught spying in Hungary get expelled quietly as usual

Panyi Szabolcs 2018.12.20.

Russian intelligence organizes some of their Balkans operations from Hungary, but despite close Russian-Hungarian relations they can not always avoid retaliation. In 2016, the Military National Security Service exposed a GRU officer. Although Hungary’s government never informed the public, approximately ten Russian spies have been busted since 2010.

Paks 2: This is what it looks like when influential people are positioning themselves around the project

Szabó András 2018.12.13.

An association with relations across the political spectrum appeared around Paks 2 last year. It wanted to act as an intermediary during the nuclear power plant expansion, and even though influential people also showed up within the association, it failed to deliver on its plans in the end.

Moneyman of Syria’s president received Hungarian residence permit through Russia

Zöldi Blanka 2018.11.22.

Atiya Khoury, who is on the US sanction list, used an address in South Moscow to apply for residence permit through Hungary’s controversial Golden Visa Program. His application was handled by a company with ties to Viktor Orbán’s advisor.

Russia and Hungary seemed to clash over the Skripal poisoning. In the background, it was a different story

Panyi Szabolcs 2018.10.29. 1 Comment

The expulsions of diplomats after the Skripal poisoning were carefully arranged in a way not to endanger the special relationship between Moscow and Budapest. Documents and interviews show that both countries made efforts not to cause real damage to one another.

People close to Viktor Orbán’s top advisor were involved in controversial golden visa program, confidential documents show

Pethő András, Zöldi Blanka 2018.10.10.

Documents obtained by Direkt36 prove that a Georgian-Israeli businessman close to Árpád Habony was involved in the operations of VolDan, the company that sold Hungarian residency bonds in Russia.

A Hungarian company came under Russian influence. Now it could receive another contract in Hungary’s nuclear project

Szabó András 2018.10.04.

The car rental company that is likely to be contracted by Rosatom is under the influence of a Russian bank. One of the company’s owners previously held high in a gas trading company with ties to Russia.

The business partner of Lorinc Meszaros is bidding for two valueable Paks 2 tenders

Szabó András 2018.09.10.

This is the first time that government-close business circles have appeared as bidders in Paks2-related tenders.

Members of Putin’s state machine received Hungarian residence permits through controversial Golden Visa program

Erdélyi Péter, Roman Slejnov, Zöldi Blanka 2018.09.10.

A joint investigation of Direkt36, 444 and Novaya Gazeta about Russian parliamentary members, executives of state-owned companies, the family of the chief of Russian foreign intelligence service and a businessman reportedly linked to organised crime.

Viktor Orban’s government has become an enthusiastic partner in Russia’s financial expansion

Szabó András 2018.09.03.

Vladimir Putin resurrected the International Investment Bank a few years ago to increase Russia’s influence in Central and Eastern Europe. Hungary has become one of the most active investors of the financial institution.

A well-connected lawyer wins contract in Hungary’s gigantic nuclear project

Szabó András 2018.06.12.

Tamas Perenyei was a state secretary during the first Orban-government and he maintains friendly relations with OTP-leader Sandor Csanyi. Last year, he bought a company which now signed a contract with Rosatom.

The U.S. is so fed up with Hungary’s passport fraud problem that it’s threatening to kick the country out of its visa waiver program

Pethő András, John Hudson 2018.05.10.

Viktor Orban and Donald Trump might be kindred spirits but there is a serious conflict between their governments over national security threats, a joint story by Direkt36 and The Washington Post has revealed.

How we teamed up with The Washington Post to expose a secret conflict between the U.S. and Hungary

Pethő András 2018.05.10.

A few weeks ago we reached out to The Washington Post and told them that we are working on a story that might be of interest for them as well. It turned out that it did.

How Viktor Orban’s government is favoring the Russians over a Hungarian company in a big business deal

Szabó András 2018.04.24.

Ganz won the tender with the backing of a state-owned Hungarian bank, but the deal fell through when the Hungarian government decided to redirect the loan to a group with Russian participation instead.

How we started our investigation into the Hungarian-Russian relationship

Szabó András 2018.03.19.

Our article about Klaus Mangold was our first Russian-related story. We received information from government officials and a foreign source who examined Mangold’s activities on behalf of other investors.

Orbán’s Game

Pethő András, Szabó András 2018.03.12. 3 Comments

Intelligence operations, huge business deals, and personal ambitions. These are some of the factors that drive Viktor Orbán in pulling his country closer to Russia.

The Eight Most Interesting Revelations From Our Orbán-Putin Story

Pethő András, Szabó András 2018.03.12.

Why did Orbán’s ally had a business meeting with the Russian secret service? Why was it so important for Orbán to buy the Russian stake in Hungary’s oil company? How tough is Putin with his own men? And some more interesting details from our investigation.