"Organisations linked to Panyi, who by his own admission cooperates with foreign intelligence services, are also part of the transatlantic pressure network," the office said in a rapid report on the "network operative named Szabolcs Panyi."

Scholarships awarded in the United States, as well as professional programmes organised by Transparency International played a significant role in the development of Panyi’s network of contacts, it said.

Panyi had conducted his research activities at an organisation operating under the auspices of the Atlantic Council, the office said, adding that the Atlantic Council also included David Koranyi, "who played a key role in the illicit foreign funding uncovered in connection with the 2022 elections, along with left-wing Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai."

Panyi is primarily associated with the Direkt36 and VSquare portals, and Direkt36 previously operated with the support of Transparency International Hungary, the report said. Its funders include organisations funded by Brussels and Soros money, such as the Sigrid Rausing Trust and the Civitates Foundation, it added.

"The portal moved to Berlin in 2026; according to several analyses, the German capital serves as a strategic hub for disinformation and political operations targeting Hungary," the office said.

About Szabolcs Panyi: 

Szabolcs Panyi is a prominent Hungarian investigative journalist renowned for his high-stakes reporting on national security, foreign policy, and foreign influence (specifically from Russia and China) in Central and Eastern Europe.

Role and Impact:

He is a senior editor at the investigative center Direkt36 in Budapest and a lead editor for VSquare, a cross-border investigative platform focusing on the Visegrád region.

Major Investigations:

He gained international recognition for his work on the Pegasus Project, which revealed how various governments used Israeli spyware to monitor journalists and activists; notably, Panyi himself was a target of this surveillance.

Recent Headlines:

In March 2026, he has been at the center of a major controversy involving leaked audio recordings. Pro-government media outlets have accused him of collaborating with foreign intelligence services, while Panyi and international observers describe these claims as a smear campaign intended to discredit his investigations into alleged government leaks to Russia.

Accolades:

He is highly decorated in his field, having won the Soma Award (Hungary's top investigative prize) multiple times and received a Free Media Award in 2024 for his "untiring investigative journalism."

Photo: Panyi's social media page
 

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.

Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.

XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com
 

*********************************************************************************************

You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: 

Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoop’s groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary

You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters

Showcase Your Business to Expats in the Loop:

As an independent portal we’re grateful to all commercial supporters who help keep you in the loop with fresh insights and inspiration. Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? If so please contact us here.