It’s no secret that Russia has been agressively targeting Hungary and Bulgaria in its pipeline strategy – promising powerful roles as gas distribution hubs for the region (quite similarly to what Serbia was promised allegedly in exchange for allowing Gazprom’s bid to pass through on NIS). What is perhaps surprising is Hungary’s nomination this week of the KGB-trained Sandor Laborc as head of intelligence services, making him chairman of NATO’s intelligence community during the country’s one year rotation. At the official level there is silence, but many diplomats have gone off the record to register their worries, remarking that members may be less inclined to share intelligence with someone from a KGB background.