"The Russians are very, very keen to at least partially compensate for the loss of Orban in Hungary. It is more than a possibility that the Russians are hoping Bulgaria can help fill the void."
"We have strong concerns about Radev's social media groups acting as an organized Russian influence campaign. But we don't have clear evidence that this is synchronized or paid in a systematic way."
Bulgaria's parliamentary elections have gained significance for Moscow after Viktor Orban's loss in Hungary. A surge of social media activity promoting Rumen Radev, a Kremlin-friendly candidate, has been noted, with TikTok and Facebook accounts supporting him growing rapidly. Concerns exist regarding the authenticity of this support, with fears of a coordinated Russian influence campaign. Analysts suggest that Russia aims to compensate for its loss in Hungary by strengthening ties with Bulgaria, potentially using Radev's candidacy to regain influence within the EU.
Read at The Washington Post
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