Human rights organizations have expressed concern over the participation of Daria Boyarskaya, a former interpreter for Vladimir Putin, in Hungary’s parliamentary elections. The OSCE assigned her to coordinate the monitoring mission. This was reported by the Austrian magazine Falter, the investigative outlet VSquare, and Reuters.
Boyarskaya previously worked for Russia’s Foreign Ministry and served as Vladimir Putin’s interpreter during talks with U.S. presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama, as well as with National Security Advisor John Bolton. In 2021, she became head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Vienna office, and in 2025 she was appointed adviser to the organization’s chair, Pia Kauma. Her career advancement has been linked to the support of OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella.
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee sent Montella a letter demanding that Boyarskaya be removed from monitoring the parliamentary elections, in which Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party risks losing ground. That could affect the balance of power in the EU in the context of support for Ukraine. However, the secretary general said he fully supports her candidacy.
Earlier, VSquare reported that the Kremlin was already interfering in the election campaign in Orban’s favor, using specialists in manipulating social media and public opinion. According to the investigation, this group is in close contact with the Fidesz team.