Hungarian national security services have reportedly identified Georg Spöttle, a prominent government-aligned pundit and frequent media commentator, as a former agent of Russia’s GRU military intelligence. According to sources familiar with the investigation, Spöttle maintained contact with Colonel Oleg Smirnov, a former Russian military attaché in Budapest, who has now been identified as his handler.

Spöttle has long been positioned as a “security expert” in pro-government outlets and regularly appeared alongside officials from Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party. His public commentary often mirrored Kremlin narratives on Ukraine, NATO, and European security, raising questions in recent years about his affiliations. These suspicions appear to have been confirmed by Hungarian authorities, though no official statement has been released. The case is linked to broader concerns about Russian influence operations in Hungary. Independent investigations have previously connected Smirnov to GRU Unit 29155, a branch known for operations across Europe, including sabotage and targeted assassinations. Smirnov departed Hungary in 2024, around the same time that Russian hybrid activities—including cyberattacks—intensified in several NATO states.