Hungarian premier Viktor Orbán is using a newly formed agency to crack down on dissent in ways not seen since Communism and that critics say are inspired by Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

The Sovereignty Protection Office (SPO) started operating last month, ostensibly to prevent foreign financing in political campaigns. But critics have warned that its remit is so loosely defined that it can target any public figures, be they politicians, civil rights groups or journalists — mirroring the early stages of Russian repression before its full-scale war in Ukraine.

Orbán’s goal, they say, is to sever ties with foundations and donors abroad, notably in the US, in operations that involve Hungarian secret services and propaganda campaigns.