Hungary alleges plot to blow up gas pipeline ahead of election

Hungary Alleges Plot to Destroy Gas Pipeline as Election Looms

Hungarian leader Viktor Orban triggered an emergency session of the National Defence Council after Serbian forces uncovered explosives near the TurkStream pipeline, which delivers Russian gas to Hungary. The find, located in the Kanjiza district close to the border with Serbia, occurred as Orban’s party faces a significant decline in public support before pivotal elections on April 3. Opposition figures have criticized his response as deliberate fearmongering, claiming it is fueled by Russian allies.

Days after security analysts raised concerns about a potential “false flag” attack that could shift blame to Ukraine, Peter Magyar, the opposition’s head, accused Orban of orchestrating the incident with “Russian advisers.” The timing of the discovery has sparked debates about its intent, as Orban’s government has long opposed EU efforts to cut ties with Russian energy sources since Ukraine’s invasion began.

“Our units discovered an explosive with massive destructive potential,” said Serbian president Alexander Vucic in a social media post. He informed Orban of the find, vowing to share updates as the investigation unfolds.

The TurkStream pipeline, a vital link for Hungary’s annual import of 5 to 8 billion cubic meters of Russian gas, is shared between Hungary and Slovakia. Orban’s allies, including Balint Pasztor of the Vojvodina Hungarian Association, suggested the attack might be a staged event aimed at weakening his political standing. They argued that if the explosives were linked to Ukraine, it would bolster Orban’s narrative of an external threat.

Fidesz, Orban’s party, has positioned its opposition to Ukraine as a central theme in the upcoming campaign. At rallies, he highlighted Hungary’s affordable energy prices, attributing them to reliance on Russian oil and gas. However, he now claims Ukrainian actions are part of a larger “Kyiv-Brussels-Berlin” alliance seeking to replace him with a “puppet” leader.

Orban previously blamed Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky for an “oil blockade,” citing the shutdown of the Druzhba pipeline through Ukrainian territory since January. Ukraine disputes this, stating the pipeline was damaged by Russian forces and should be operational by mid-April. Despite no formal evidence of Ukrainian involvement, a Serbian source hinted the investigation might reveal responsibility by Monday.

Security expert Andras Racz warned on Facebook that a “fake attack” on the TurkStream could be staged within Serbia, with Ukrainian origins. “This operation would help Orban sway public opinion before the vote,” said former Hungarian counter-intelligence officer Peter Buda, who added the attack appears designed to serve political motives.

The Hungarian government maintains the threat is genuine, with Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto stating on social media: “We’ve seen it all—the oil blockade, the drone strikes on Russian territory, and now this incident.”