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24/7 Russian Propaganda Blitz Hit Moldova Before the Elections - VSquare.org Moldovans had faced months, if not years, of an information onslaught at levels beyond what just about any society has faced. In the end, the pro-European ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) w...

💥🔎🇷🇺 Our analysis reveals the scale of Russia’s massive propaganda offensive in Moldova: in 3 weeks, 9,900 TikTok videos were published and generated over 93 million views, created with artificial intelligence. Yet despite Moscow’s efforts, the pro-European PAS secured 50.2% in the Sept 28 election.

Unmasking Visegrád24: Tracing the People, Money, and Political Connections - VSquare.org Visegrád24 became famous for its anti-Muslim and anti-migration stance as well as waves of disinformation. A recent report by the Centre for Information Integrity in Africa (CINIA) brings to light a previously little-mentioned person tied to the network.

💥🔎 On X/Twitter, Visegrád24 became famous for its anti-Muslim and anti-migration stance as well as waves of disinformation. A recent report brings to light people, funding and political actors tied to their Central Europe-based but international network.

The Battle for Birch: How Russian Timber Keeps Flowing into Europe - VSquare.org Czech company Orlimex used to be one of the largest importers of Russian birch plywood in Europe. Today, Russian timber is under sanctions, yet loopholes in the EU’s complex legal framework still allow Russian birch to reach European markets

⚡️Before Russia’s war, Czech firms were among the biggest importers of Russian birch plywood. Though now banned under EU rules, loopholes let it slip back via Kazakhstan or Georgia. The EU warns such Russian wood still likely ends up in Czech homes.

Unmasking Visegrád24: Tracing the People, Money, and Political Connections - VSquare.org Visegrád24 became famous for its anti-Muslim and anti-migration stance as well as waves of disinformation. A recent report by the Centre for Information Integrity in Africa (CINIA) brings to light a previously little-mentioned person tied to the network.

💥🔎 On X/Twitter, Visegrád24 became famous for its anti-Muslim and anti-migration stance as well as waves of disinformation. A recent report brings to light people, funding and political actors tied to their Central Europe-based but international network.

River Pollution in Ukraine and Hungary Worsens in the Shadow of War - VSquare.org Crystal clear at its source in Ukraine, the Tisza river carries tons of plastic waste by the time it reaches Hungary. A new investigation shows how poor waste management in Transcarpathia, compounded by Russia’s war, has worsened the river’s pollution.

🔎🌊Crystal clear at its source in Ukraine, the Tisza river carries tons of plastic waste by the time it reaches Hungary. A new investigation shows how poor waste management in Transcarpathia, compounded by Russia’s war, has worsened the river’s pollution.

Hotel Orbán: How Hungary’s Ruling Family Benefited from the EU Presidency - VSquare.org During Hungary’s EU presidency, Viktor Orbán’s government pushed visiting delegations to stay at Hotel Dorothea, a luxury hotel owned by the prime minister’s son-in-law.

🔎💰INVESTIGATION: During Hungary’s EU presidency, Viktor Orbán’s government pressured visiting delegations to stay at an Orbán family-owned luxury hotel. The Finnish PM & his team was even redirected there by organizers despite booking a different hotel.

⚡️Investigation, visualized: we reveal full details of 2024’s arson attacks and parcel bombs across Europe. The sabotage was carried out by Russia’s GRU, masterminded by a smuggler of radioactive materials, with perpetrators recruited via Telegram.

🔗Link: vsquare.org/crossing...

⚡️Investigation, visualized: we reveal full details of 2024’s arson attacks & parcel bombs across Europe. The sabotage was carried out by Russia’s GRU, masterminded by a smuggler of radioactive materials with perpetrators recruited via Telegram.

🔗Link: vsquare.org/crossing...

The Battle for Birch: How Russian Timber Keeps Flowing into Europe - VSquare.org Czech company Orlimex used to be one of the largest importers of Russian birch plywood in Europe. Today, Russian timber is under sanctions, yet loopholes in the EU’s complex legal framework still allo...

🔎🇷🇺 Before Russia’s war, Czech firms were among the biggest importers of Russian birch plywood. Though now banned under EU rules, loopholes let it slip back via Kazakhstan or Georgia — so it still ends up in Czech homes. Another piece from @investigacecz.bsky.social's series on sanctions evasion.👇

Goulash: Prague Isn’t Turning Into Budapest; Visegrád24’s Operations Exposed - VSquare.org Welcome back to Goulash! Though I’m finishing this newsletter at Warsaw’s Chopin Airport, in this week’s edition we’re serving up a special coverage of the October 3–4 Czech parliamentary elections, w...

🍲In @vsquare.bsky.social's fresh Goulash newsletter, we dish up coverage of the Oct 3–4 Czech elections, where Andrej Babiš’s ANO looks set to rise back to the top and reclaim power. To spice it up, there's also a recap of our earlier stories on Babiš, plus some analysis on what to expect from him.

Unmasking Visegrád24: Tracing the People, Money, and Political Connections - VSquare.org Visegrád24 became famous for its anti-Muslim and anti-migration stance as well as waves of disinformation. A recent report by the Centre for Information Integrity in Africa (CINIA) brings to light a p...

💥🔎 On X/Twitter, Visegrád24 became famous for its anti-Muslim and anti-migration stance as well as waves of disinformation. A recent report brings to light people, funding and political actors tied to their Central Europe-based but international network. @vsquare.bsky.social

The Era of Orbánism as an Exportable Model May Be Ending - VSquare.org Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán’s once-admired “illiberal model” is faltering — plagued by economic crisis, voter frustration, and collapsing governance. With the 2026 election looming, his future — and the global appeal of his system — is at stake as his government faces its biggest political test.

⚡️The “Orbán model” is losing its appeal globally. Hungary’s 2026 elections will be closely watched by leaders of similar regimes, as the vote could decide whether Viktor Orbán’s unique EU-style information autocracy survives or faces a historic defeat.

👌🍲 Goulash is back this evening! Don’t miss our bi-weekly newsletter — this issue is going to be tasty, packed with fresh scoops and standout investigations from Central Europe’s top non-profit outlets.
📨 Subscribe: http://vsquare.org/n...

👌🍲 Our Goulash newsletter is back this Thursday! Get fresh scoops and hard-hitting investigations from Central Europe’s top non-profit outlets delivered straight to your inbox every two weeks.
📨 Subscribe: http://vsquare.org/n...

“An Old Acquaintance From Russia Contacted Me”: Parcel-Bomb Explosions Suspects Arrested - VSquare.org Estonian authorities have detained two suspects linked to Russia’s GRU parcel bomb plot that shook Europe last year, when explosive devices hidden in packages sent from Estonia detonated in multiple countries.

💥 Estonian authorities have detained two suspects tied to the GRU parcel bomb plot that shook Europe last year, when explosive devices hidden in packages sent from Estonia detonated in countries including Germany, the UK, and Poland.

River Pollution in Ukraine and Hungary Worsens in the Shadow of War - VSquare.org Crystal clear at its source in Ukraine, the Tisza river carries tons of plastic waste by the time it reaches Hungary. A new investigation shows how poor waste management in Transcarpathia, compounded by Russia’s war, has worsened the river’s pollution.

🔎🌊Crystal clear at its source in Ukraine, the Tisza river carries tons of plastic waste by the time it reaches Hungary. A new investigation shows how poor waste management in Transcarpathia, compounded by Russia’s war, has worsened the river’s pollution.

⚡️Investigation, visualized: we reveal full details of 2024’s arson attacks and parcel bombs across Europe. The sabotage was carried out by Russia’s GRU, masterminded by a smuggler of radioactive materials, with perpetrators recruited via Telegram.

🔗Link: vsquare.org/crossing...

“An Old Acquaintance From Russia Contacted Me”: Parcel-Bomb Explosions Suspects Arrested - VSquare.org Estonian authorities have detained two suspects linked to Russia’s GRU parcel bomb plot that shook Europe last year, when explosive devices hidden in packages sent from Estonia detonated in multiple c...

💥 Estonian authorities detained two suspects over the GRU parcel bomb plot that rocked Europe last year, when explosive devices hidden in packages sent from Estonia exploded in Germany, the UK, and Poland. @vsquare.bsky.social @holgerroonemaa.bsky.social

✈️🇬🇷 Back from Athens and the International Journalism Forum, themed “Navigating the Age of Doubt” this year. Great to reconnect, make new friends, and catch up on journalism trends—and to note that while many think Hungary’s press freedom is worst in the EU, it’s actually Greece.
@vsquare.bsky.social

👌🍲 Goulash is back again this Thursday! Our bi-weekly newsletter brings fresh scoops and standout investigations from Central Europe’s top non-profit outlets straight to your inbox.
📨 Subscribe: http://vsquare.org/n...

From the Kremlin to Karlovy Vary: Inside Putin’s Orthodox Women’s Network - VSquare.org The Russian Union of Orthodox Women pushes to outlaw abortion, advances a hardline pro-Kremlin agenda, and openly supports Russia’s war in Ukraine.

⚡INVESTIGATION: The Russian Union of Orthodox Women fights for abortion bans, pushes a hardline pro-Kremlin agenda, and backs Russia’s war. Its leaders snapped up property in Karlovy Vary — even Putin’s ski instructor is in their network.

⚡️Investigation, visualized: we reveal full details of 2024’s arson attacks & parcel bombs across Europe. The sabotage was carried out by Russia’s GRU, masterminded by a smuggler of radioactive materials with perpetrators recruited via Telegram.

🔗Link: vsquare.org/crossing...

The Era of Orbánism as an Exportable Model May Be Ending - VSquare.org Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán’s once-admired “illiberal model” is faltering — plagued by economic crisis, voter frustration, and collapsing governance. With the 2026 election looming, his future — and the global appeal of his system — is at stake as his government faces its biggest political test.

⚡️The “Orbán model” is losing its appeal globally. Hungary’s 2026 elections will be closely watched by leaders of similar regimes, as the vote could decide whether Viktor Orbán’s unique EU-style information autocracy survives or faces a historic defeat.

⚡️Investigation, visualized: we reveal full details of 2024’s arson attacks and parcel bombs across Europe. The sabotage was carried out by Russia’s GRU, masterminded by a smuggler of radioactive materials, with perpetrators recruited via Telegram.

🔗Link: vsquare.org/crossing...

River Pollution in Ukraine and Hungary Worsens in the Shadow of War - VSquare.org Crystal clear at its source in Ukraine, the Tisza river carries tons of plastic waste by the time it reaches Hungary. A new investigation shows how poor waste management in Transcarpathia, compounded by Russia’s war, has worsened the river’s pollution.

🔎🌊Crystal clear at its source in Ukraine, the Tisza river carries tons of plastic waste by the time it reaches Hungary. A new investigation shows how poor waste management in Transcarpathia, compounded by Russia’s war, has worsened the river’s pollution.

Hotel Orbán: How Hungary’s Ruling Family Benefited from the EU Presidency - VSquare.org During Hungary’s EU presidency, Viktor Orbán’s government pushed visiting delegations to stay at Hotel Dorothea, a luxury hotel owned by the prime minister’s son-in-law.

🔎💰INVESTIGATION: During Hungary’s EU presidency, Viktor Orbán’s government pressured visiting delegations to stay at an Orbán family-owned luxury hotel. The Finnish PM & his team was even redirected there by organizers despite booking a different hotel.

River Pollution in Ukraine and Hungary Worsens in the Shadow of War - VSquare.org Crystal clear at its source in Ukraine, the Tisza river carries tons of plastic waste by the time it reaches Hungary. A new investigation shows how poor waste management in Transcarpathia, compounded ...

🔎🌊Crystal clear at its source in Ukraine, the Tisza river carries tons of plastic waste by the time it reaches Hungary. A new investigation shows how poor waste management, compounded by Russia’s war, has worsened the river’s pollution. @vsquare.bsky.social @atlatszo.hu vsquare.org/tisza-river-...

From the Kremlin to Karlovy Vary: Inside Putin’s Orthodox Women’s Network - VSquare.org The Russian Union of Orthodox Women pushes to outlaw abortion, advances a hardline pro-Kremlin agenda, and openly supports Russia’s war in Ukraine.

⚡INVESTIGATION: The Russian Union of Orthodox Women fights for abortion bans, pushes a hardline pro-Kremlin agenda, and backs Russia’s war. Its leaders snapped up property in Karlovy Vary — even Putin’s ski instructor is in their network.

⚡️Investigation, visualized: we reveal full details of 2024’s arson attacks & parcel bombs across Europe. The sabotage was carried out by Russia’s GRU, masterminded by a smuggler of radioactive materials with perpetrators recruited via Telegram.

🔗Link: vsquare.org/crossing...