"I don't want any Putin's allies to be in power in Europe," saysLlja Nordic."I think Viktor Orban is a threat for human rights in Europe same asVladimir Putin."

The Russian feminist activist, who lives in exile in Vienna,is in Budapest this week to openWomen Against War, an exhibition documenting the persecution of women inRussiawho have opposed the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine.

The time and place are deliberate. "It's really important to open it in Budapest because Orban's government is a big ally of Russia and Russian propaganda is very strong inHungary," she tells RFI.

"We want to open the information for Hungarian people to see what's really going on in Russia and what Putin's regime is really about and who is the friend ofViktor Orban."

As the12 April voteapproaches, polls show the opposition Tisza Party, headed byPeter Magyar,leading Orbn's Fidesz by 19 to 23 percent. Yet few are willing to call the outcome.

Media bias, alleged foreign interference and an electoral system structured to favour the ruling party mean the playing field remains far from even.

'The propaganda machine Orban has built has a massive impact before any election'

Claims of manipulation

The final weeks of campaigning have been marked by claims of Russian involvement and attempted manipulation.

A pro-Kremlin disinformation network was caughtimpersonatinginternational media outlets to spread fabricated claims about Magyar, while Orban's foreign minister wasembroiled in controversyafter a Washington Post investigation alleged he had regularly leaked sensitive EU meeting information to Moscow.

Then on Sunday, Serbian police discovered several kilograms of explosives near the TurkStream gas pipeline that carries Russian gas to Hungary evidence, Orban and his allies claimed, of a plot against his government, possibly byUkraine.

Magyar suggested the incident could have been afalse flagoperation. Serbian intelligence subsequently said Ukraine was not involved.

MeanwhileUnited StatesVice-President JD Vance openly endorsed Orban during avisit to Budapest, where he accused theEuropean Unionof interfering in Hungary's election.

As corruption allegations close out campaign, what to expect in Hungarys election

Brussels vs Moscow

Pollingby Gallup shows that more than a quarter of adults in Hungary see politics and government as the country's single greatest concern, and more than half lack faith that its elections are honest.

Transparency Internationalhas ranked Hungary as themost corruptmember of the EU for the fourth consecutive year,and discontent over the economy, housing and security runs deep.

Russia enjoys a 29 percent approval rating among Hungarians, according to Gallup's poll a rebound after it fell to 14 percent following the invasion of Ukraine. Approval of EU leadership remains higher, at 42 percent.

With Orban collecting endorsements from critics of the EU, including US PresidentDonald Trumpand Italian Prime MinisterGiorgia Meloni,Magyar has framedSunday's vote as a choice between Brussels and Moscow.

Nordic, who fled Russia after facing arrests, house searches and a terrorism case, says she knows from experience how disinformation hollows out democracy.

"Showing the truth," she says, "is one of the easiest ways to resist."

Originally published on RFI