Blog Archives - VSQUARE.ORG

RSF World Press Freedom Index 2022: Widening divide

Source: rsf.org/en/index

Situation in Visegrad Four countries reflects broader trends – as Reporters Without Borders (RSF) note in World Press Freedom Index 2022, whole European Union is caught between two extremes.

VSquare

05.05.2022

IPI Mission Report: Media Freedom in Hungary Ahead of 2022 Election

elections, media freedom, Viktor Orban

View on front of Parliament of Hungary, Budapest, Hungary. Source: Karelj / Wikimedia

International Press Institute released a new report assessing challenges for independent journalism in Hungary. We are publishing its key findings.

VSquare

23.03.2022

Putin’s propagandists: How Russian information warfare succeeded in Hungary

media freedom, propaganda, War in Ukraine

Source: M-SUR / Shutterstock

Despite Hungary backing the EU’s punitive sanctions regime against Russia and the humanitarian aid the cabinet provided to Ukraine, the government continues its foreign policy balancing act between the West and Russia.

VSquare

17.03.2022

The Orbán split: siding with both, simultaneously

War in Ukraine

People demonstrate against Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Budapest

Anti-war protest in Budapest, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine. February 26, 2022. Source: MARTON MONUS / Reuters / Forum

For three terms, the Hungarian prime minister has fought with Brussels and moved closer to Moscow. Then came the Russian invasion of Ukraine — a painful reality check. But it seems that Orbán still does not want to fall out of Putin’s good graces.

VSquare

04.03.2022

Open to refugees, open to the EU: The week that turned the tables in Poland

refugees, War in Ukraine

archiwum-protestow-publicznych-mir-app-20022022004

Protest against Russian aggression. Demonstration of solidarity with Ukraine. Warsaw 20.02.2022 Source: Rafał Milach / Archiwum Protestów Publicznych

The Russian assault on Ukraine has allowed the Polish government to present itself as a pro-EU state, even as it remains an illiberal regime.

Wojciech Cieśla

04.03.2022

Russo-Ukrainian War: Background and Future Perspectives

Vladimir Putin, War in Ukraine

Modern,Military,Tanks,Silhouette,In,Front,Of,Ukraine,Flag.,Political

Source: Lervik Design / Shutterstock

The Russian aggression against Ukraine has caused a chain of reactions that is fundamentally transforming Europe and the world, although we are not yet able to fully capture its effects.

VSquare

04.03.2022

Hungary gives up its fierce pro-Kremlin stance at last

Viktor Orban, Vladimir Putin, War in Ukraine

Russian President Putin meets with Hungarian Prime Minister Orban in Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban attend a news conference in Moscow, Russia February 1, 2022. Source: SPUTNIK / Reuters / Forum

The unprecedented show of solidarity towards Ukraine on a regional and European, Trans-Atlantic level forced the Hungarian government to change diplomatic course in just a matter of days, and eventually abandon 12 years of pro-Eastern foreign policy.

VSquare

03.03.2022

Independent journalists in Ukraine and Russia deserve our support and admiration

media freedom, Vladimir Putin, War in Ukraine

Hand,With,Pen,Tied,With,Rope,,Depicting,The,Idea,Of

Source: Natasa Adzic / Shutterstock

Vladimir Putin started a war. Now he wants to silence journalists writing the truth about his war crime. His censors launched an attack against the remaining free media in the country.

VSquare

28.02.2022

Mysterious Ways of the Slovak Prosecutor General

USA

Source: Minh Hoang Chi Bo / Shutterstock

Slovak Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka attacked the new defense agreement between Slovakia and the USA days before his criticized trip to celebrate the anniversary of the Russian prosecutor’s office in Moscow.

Tomáš Madleňák

14.01.2022

Orbán’s nominee for president: anti-gender crusader Katalin Novák

Viktor Orban

Katalin Novák during the World Congress of Families in Budapest, May 2017. Source: Elekes Andor / Wikimedia Commons, CC 4.0

Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán announced Fidesz will put forward Katalin Novák for president. The step ensures Orbán’s party will have an ally in the office even if they lose the general elections coming up in spring. Former minister for families Novák is the face of the Hungarian government’s anti-gender campaign and interacted with various Russian individuals believed to be close to intelligence operations.

Márton Sarkadi Nagy

12.01.2022