Days before Hungarians head to the polls in an election that stands to define their country's place in Europe, opponents of Prime Minister Viktor Orban are hoping his ties to Russia will drive voters to end his 16 years in power.
"I don't want any Putin's allies to be in power in Europe," says Lölja Nordic. "I think Viktor Orban is a threat for human rights in Europe – same as Vladimir Putin."
The Russian feminist activist, who lives in exile in Vienna, is in Budapest this week to open Women Against War, an exhibition documenting the persecution of women in Russia who have opposed the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine.
The time and place are deliberate. "It's really important to open it in Budapest because Orban's government is a big ally of Russia and Russian propaganda is very strong in Hungary," she tells RFI.
"We want to open the information for Hungarian people to see what's really going on in Russia and what Putin's regime is really about – and who is the friend of Viktor Orban."
As the 12 April vote approaches, polls show the opposition Tisza Party, headed by Peter Magyar, leading Orbán's Fidesz by 19 to 23 percent. Yet few are willing to call the outcome.
Media bias, alleged foreign interference and an electoral system structured to favour the ruling party mean the playing field remains far from even.
'The propaganda machine Orban has built has a massive impact before any election'
Claims of manipulation
The final weeks of campaigning have been marked by claims of Russian involvement and attempted manipulation.
A pro-Kremlin disinformation network was caught impersonating international media outlets to spread fabricated claims about Magyar, while Orban's foreign minister was embroiled in controversy after a Washington Post investigation alleged he had regularly leaked sensitive EU meeting information to Moscow.
Then on Sunday, Serbian police discovered several kilograms of explosives near the TurkStream gas pipeline that carries Russian gas to Hungary – evidence, Orban and his allies claimed, of a plot against his government, possibly by Ukraine.
Magyar suggested the incident could have been a false flag operation. Serbian intelligence subsequently said Ukraine was not involved.
Meanwhile United States Vice-President JD Vance openly endorsed Orban during a visit to Budapest, where he accused the European Union of interfering in Hungary's election.
As corruption allegations close out campaign, what to expect in Hungary’s election
Brussels vs Moscow
Polling by Gallup shows that more than a quarter of adults in Hungary see politics and government as the country's single greatest concern, and more than half lack faith that its elections are honest.
Transparency International has ranked Hungary as the most corrupt member of the EU for the fourth consecutive year, and discontent over the economy, housing and security runs deep.
Russia enjoys a 29 percent approval rating among Hungarians, according to Gallup's poll – a rebound after it fell to 14 percent following the invasion of Ukraine. Approval of EU leadership remains higher, at 42 percent.
With Orban collecting endorsements from critics of the EU, including US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Magyar has framed Sunday's vote as a choice between Brussels and Moscow.
Nordic, who fled Russia after facing arrests, house searches and a terrorism case, says she knows from experience how disinformation hollows out democracy.
"Showing the truth," she says, "is one of the easiest ways to resist."
