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Thanks Anne Applebaum -- Indeed a timely one to pinpoint a perennial problem, Russian influence ops exploiting corrupt regimes.

Hungary has experienced a rare political upheaval since a sex abuse scandal in February that hit very close to home for Viktor Orbán ft.com/content/7a4c63… via @ft

Hungary’s ⁦Orbán Viktor⁩ faces a quickly growing challenger he can’t quite shut down, threatening his popularity and party cohesion via Financial Times on.ft.com/4aKxL0h

Serbia plays careful east-west balancing act, appoints two ministers under US sanctions for Russia ties while also courting US investors on.ft.com/3y091my via @financialtimes

While Putin fights in Ukraine and Biden fights Trump, Xi Jinping is touring Europe, heavily including eastern quarters, starting with a Serbia visit today and Hungary tomorrow on.ft.com/4bshRYt via @financialtimes

⁦Orbán Viktor⁩ to meet ⁦President of Russia⁩ after Kyiv trip — Financial Times confirming ⁦Szabolcs Panyi⁩ scoop on.ft.com/3xzs5s1

Hungary spends twice as much on family subsidies as on defence. Why this still failed to spur a baby boom w/ ⁦Valentina Romei⁩ via Financial Times on.ft.com/4cqqmU4

As #Kosovo tries to achieve full sovereignty for the first time, its leader Albin Kurti defies western pressure to compromise with Serbia on.ft.com/3TIoS14 via @financialtimes

Double standards or rightful suspicion? Hungarian investors accuse Spain of breaking EU law over rail deal veto on.ft.com/3Y83m8z with Barney Jopson via @financialtimes

Money laundering in Serbia? European Central Bank investigation led to belief Alta Bank "cannot ensure legal origin of deposits". Takeover attempt of Austria's Addiko Bank blocked. To be continued w/ @samgadjones ft.com/content/0fbf22… via @ft

In nearly 20 years, ⁦Orbán Viktor⁩ has been without a rival in #Hungary — that is over.👇 via Financial Times on.ft.com/40iAU57

Prepare for a Trump effect on this too: Russian energy group Lukoil plans to sell Bulgarian refinery to Qatari-British consortium on.ft.com/4fCeFfc via @financialtimes

⁦Călin Georgescu OFFICIAL ACCOUNT⁩ will be a decisive factor in May’s presidential election in #Romania one way or another — especially after boost from ⁦JD Vance⁩ via Financial Times on.ft.com/4gKvTqO

Donald Trump pressures Romania to lift restrictions on Tate brothers w/⁦Henry Foy⁩ ⁦Gideon Rachman⁩ via Financial Times on.ft.com/4gJvoNx

“Dracula commando” — I kid you not — was led by a 101-year-old as Romania arrests six over ‘Vlad the Impaler’ pro-Russia treason plot 🤪🧛‍♂️ via Financial Times on.ft.com/4by328e

Few people challenge the status quo in Europe the way this man does. The far-right Romanian outsider backed by Washington and Moscow via Financial Times on.ft.com/4kw9Cjt

This man could well be Romania's next president. And unlike the previous frontrunner, he is no fan of Putin. My interview with 🇷🇴 George Simion 🇲🇩 in the Financial Times : on.ft.com/4hCtVck

SCOOP EU probes BYD plant in Hungary. Raises trade tensions with Beijing further. Brussels determined that Chinese investments to avoid tariffs are not « assembly operations «  . With ⁦Henry Foy⁩ ⁦Marton Dunai⁩ via ⁦FT Press Office⁩ on.ft.com/4bXo801

Countries that have joined, then left, the #ICC (International Criminal Court): Israel, US, Russia, Sudan. And now Hungary. on.ft.com/42cQPBp

Serbia is a pressure cooker right now, with protests, sanctions, and a stalling EU accession process -- the nomination of a total political novice as PM shows that Vucic remains commander in chief on.ft.com/4jlZUyT