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Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 2h

🧐One of Viktor Orbán's MPs and a Hungarian government commissioner just shared a bizarre AI-generated image suggesting it’s over for Ursula von der Leyen and that “the Patriots have arrived.”

A drunk trio of Orbán, Babiš, and Fico ring her doorbell—with Fico barely managing to stay on his feet.

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Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 2h

💥🔎💰NEW INVESTIGATION: Across the Visegrád countries, politicians use paid social media ads to attack journalists, human rights activists, and NGOs – while Meta & Google profit from this #SponsoredHate. Such ads reach tens of thousands of users while evading platform moderation. @vsquare.bsky.social

Sponsored Hate: How Politicians Paid for Meta Ads to Attack Journalists - VSquare.org

Across the Visegrád countries, politicians have increasingly used paid social media ads to attack journalists, human rights activists, and civil society organizations.

vsquare.org

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Reposted by Szabolcs Panyi

VSquare.org @vsquare.bsky.social · 1d

💥 Estonian authorities have detained two suspects tied to the GRU parcel bomb plot that shook Europe last year, when explosive devices hidden in packages sent from Estonia detonated in countries including Germany, the UK, and Poland.

“An Old Acquaintance From Russia Contacted Me”: Parcel-Bomb Explosions Suspects Arrested - VSquare.org

Estonian authorities have detained two suspects linked to Russia’s GRU parcel bomb plot that shook Europe last year, when explosive devices hidden in packages sent from Estonia detonated in multiple countries.

vsquare.org

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Reposted by Szabolcs Panyi

Henry Foy @henryjfoy.ft.com · 1d

Brussels to curb the travel of Russian diplomats within the EU, in response to a surge in sabotage attempts that intelligence agencies say are led by spies operating under diplomatic cover.

Czech-led initiative backed after Hungary drops its veto. With @andybounds.bsky.social

on.ft.com/46Umr0T

EU to curb Russian diplomats’ travel as suspected spy attacks mount

[FREE TO READ] Intelligence agencies say sabotage operations are often led by spies posing as diplomats

on.ft.com

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Reposted by Szabolcs Panyi

Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 1d

💥🔎🇷🇺 Our analysis reveals the scale of Russia’s massive propaganda offensive in Moldova: in 3 weeks, 9,900 TikTok videos were published and generated over 93 million views, created with artificial intelligence. Yet despite Moscow’s efforts, the pro-European PAS secured 50.2% in the Sept 28 election.

24/7 Russian Propaganda Blitz Hit Moldova Before the Elections - VSquare.org

Moldovans had faced months, if not years, of an information onslaught at levels beyond what just about any society has faced. In the end, the pro-European ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) w...

vsquare.org

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Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 1d

💥🔎🇷🇺 Our analysis reveals the scale of Russia’s massive propaganda offensive in Moldova: in 3 weeks, 9,900 TikTok videos were published and generated over 93 million views, created with artificial intelligence. Yet despite Moscow’s efforts, the pro-European PAS secured 50.2% in the Sept 28 election.

24/7 Russian Propaganda Blitz Hit Moldova Before the Elections - VSquare.org

Moldovans had faced months, if not years, of an information onslaught at levels beyond what just about any society has faced. In the end, the pro-European ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) w...

vsquare.org

15 180 430

Reposted by Szabolcs Panyi

Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 3d

💥🌈Despite the Orbán government's ban under the homophobic “child protection law,” thousands joined today’s Pride march in the Hungarian city of Pécs. Far-right protesters showed up, but police protected the march—just as they did when 100-200K defied the Budapest Pride ban this summer

📸: 444.hu

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Reposted by Szabolcs Panyi

Ben Stanley @benstanley.eu · 2d

You know how there’s that one mate of yours who lurches from personal crisis to personal crisis, keeps losing his job, goes through a string of emotionally devastating relationships and yet somehow comes out of it with an enviable lifestyle?

France.

Stanley Pignal @spignal.bsky.social · 2d

Bloody hell. Lecornu out.

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Reposted by Szabolcs Panyi

Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 4d

💰Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz and their proxies spent six times more on Facebook ads than all Czech parties combined. In Czechia, it was an election campaign; in Hungary, it wasn’t. The Orbán camp' paid content is still live on Facebook and YouTube despite a new ban.

Source: @HungarianSunday on X

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Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 3d

💥🌈Despite the Orbán government's ban under the homophobic “child protection law,” thousands joined today’s Pride march in the Hungarian city of Pécs. Far-right protesters showed up, but police protected the march—just as they did when 100-200K defied the Budapest Pride ban this summer

📸: 444.hu

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Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 3d

☕💡Independent investigations into corruption and abuse of power don’t come easy—they require time, resources, and risk. If you’d like to help me keep going, you can support here:

Szabolcs Panyi is doing investigative journalism & holding power to account - Buymeacoffee

Szia! 👋I’m a Budapest-based investigative journalist dedicated to uncovering corruption, abuse of power, and Russian and Chinese espionage and influence operations in Central Europe. I also work

buymeacoffee.com

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Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 3d

💥🔎 On X/Twitter, Visegrád24 became famous for its anti-Muslim and anti-migration stance as well as waves of disinformation. A recent report brings to light people, funding and political actors tied to their Central Europe-based but international network.

Unmasking Visegrád24: Tracing the People, Money, and Political Connections - VSquare.org

Visegrád24 became famous for its anti-Muslim and anti-migration stance as well as waves of disinformation. A recent report by the Centre for Information Integrity in Africa (CINIA) brings to light a previously little-mentioned person tied to the network.

vsquare.org

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Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 4d

💰Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz and their proxies spent six times more on Facebook ads than all Czech parties combined. In Czechia, it was an election campaign; in Hungary, it wasn’t. The Orbán camp' paid content is still live on Facebook and YouTube despite a new ban.

Source: @HungarianSunday on X

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Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 4d

🔎 Before Russia’s war, Czech firms were among the biggest importers of Russian birch plywood. Though now banned under EU rules, loopholes let it slip back via Kazakhstan or Georgia — so it still likely ends up in Czechia. @investigace_cz @VSquare_Project

The Battle for Birch: How Russian Timber Keeps Flowing into Europe - VSquare.org

Czech company Orlimex used to be one of the largest importers of Russian birch plywood in Europe. Today, Russian timber is under sanctions, yet loopholes in the EU’s complex legal framework still allow Russian birch to reach European markets

vsquare.org

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Reposted by Szabolcs Panyi

Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 5d

💥🔎 On X/Twitter, Visegrád24 became famous for its anti-Muslim and anti-migration stance as well as waves of disinformation. A recent report brings to light people, funding and political actors tied to their Central Europe-based but international network. @vsquare.bsky.social

Unmasking Visegrád24: Tracing the People, Money, and Political Connections - VSquare.org

Visegrád24 became famous for its anti-Muslim and anti-migration stance as well as waves of disinformation. A recent report by the Centre for Information Integrity in Africa (CINIA) brings to light a p...

vsquare.org

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Reposted by Szabolcs Panyi

VSquare.org @vsquare.bsky.social · 4d

⚡️Investigation, visualized: we reveal full details of 2024’s arson attacks & parcel bombs across Europe. The sabotage was carried out by Russia’s GRU, masterminded by a smuggler of radioactive materials with perpetrators recruited via Telegram.

🔗Link: vsquare.org/crossing...

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Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 5d

🕵️ Several people in Czechia work for spyware firm Intellexa, accused of aiding human rights abuses and now on trial in Greece. We found the address of a key Israeli figure in a Czech town — marked by a huge Israeli flag. @investigace_cz @VSquare_Project

How a Czech Supply Chain Feeds the Global Spyware Machine - VSquare.org

Several people living in the Czech Republic have worked for Intellexa, the spyware company, representatives of which have been accused of assisting with human rights violations and are currently on trial in Greece.

vsquare.org

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Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 5d

💥 In Copenhagen, Donald Tusk trolled Viktor Orbán, who claimed Europe’s real danger isn’t Russia (which is too weak, he argues) but “economic stagnation and lost competitiveness.”

Ironically, those are Hungary’s biggest problems due to Orbán’s failed economic policies, and rampant corruption.

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Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 5d

🍲In @vsquare.bsky.social's fresh Goulash newsletter, we dish up coverage of the Oct 3–4 Czech elections, where Andrej Babiš’s ANO looks set to rise back to the top and reclaim power. To spice it up, there's also a recap of our earlier stories on Babiš, plus some analysis on what to expect from him.

Goulash: Prague Isn’t Turning Into Budapest; Visegrád24’s Operations Exposed - VSquare.org

Welcome back to Goulash! Though I’m finishing this newsletter at Warsaw’s Chopin Airport, in this week’s edition we’re serving up a special coverage of the October 3–4 Czech parliamentary elections, w...

vsquare.org

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Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 5d

💥🔎 On X/Twitter, Visegrád24 became famous for its anti-Muslim and anti-migration stance as well as waves of disinformation. A recent report brings to light people, funding and political actors tied to their Central Europe-based but international network. @vsquare.bsky.social

Unmasking Visegrád24: Tracing the People, Money, and Political Connections - VSquare.org

Visegrád24 became famous for its anti-Muslim and anti-migration stance as well as waves of disinformation. A recent report by the Centre for Information Integrity in Africa (CINIA) brings to light a p...

vsquare.org

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Reposted by Szabolcs Panyi

Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 7d

👌🍲 Our Goulash newsletter is back this Thursday! Get fresh scoops and hard-hitting investigations from Central Europe’s top non-profit outlets delivered straight to your inbox every two weeks.
📨 Subscribe: http://vsquare.org/n...

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Reposted by Szabolcs Panyi

Brian Stelter @brianstelter.bsky.social · 7d

This is the day NPR and PBS hoped would never come: The day federal funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting dries up.

CPB is winding down its operations and local stations are making big changes to cope with budget shortfalls. Here's a thread about what stands out to me the most...

PBS and NPR funding cuts are hitting home as government shutdown looms | CNN Business

Cuts to NPR, PBS and other public media outlets have been in the news all year long, but now the federal funds have actually run out.

www.cnn.com

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Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 7d

👌🍲 Our Goulash newsletter is back this Thursday! Get fresh scoops and hard-hitting investigations from Central Europe’s top non-profit outlets delivered straight to your inbox every two weeks.
📨 Subscribe: http://vsquare.org/n...

4 18

Reposted by Szabolcs Panyi

Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 8d

💥 Estonian authorities detained two suspects over the GRU parcel bomb plot that rocked Europe last year, when explosive devices hidden in packages sent from Estonia exploded in Germany, the UK, and Poland. @vsquare.bsky.social @holgerroonemaa.bsky.social

“An Old Acquaintance From Russia Contacted Me”: Parcel-Bomb Explosions Suspects Arrested - VSquare.org

Estonian authorities have detained two suspects linked to Russia’s GRU parcel bomb plot that shook Europe last year, when explosive devices hidden in packages sent from Estonia detonated in multiple c...

vsquare.org

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Reposted by Szabolcs Panyi

VSquare.org @vsquare.bsky.social · 8d

🔎🌊Crystal clear at its source in Ukraine, the Tisza river carries tons of plastic waste by the time it reaches Hungary. A new investigation shows how poor waste management in Transcarpathia, compounded by Russia’s war, has worsened the river’s pollution.

River Pollution in Ukraine and Hungary Worsens in the Shadow of War - VSquare.org

Crystal clear at its source in Ukraine, the Tisza river carries tons of plastic waste by the time it reaches Hungary. A new investigation shows how poor waste management in Transcarpathia, compounded by Russia’s war, has worsened the river’s pollution.

vsquare.org

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