When I lived in Budapest (late 1990-early 2000's), Viktor Orban was the young liberal firebrand, standing in the face of the old holdover Communists who had managed to retain the reins of power after the fall of the USSR in 1989.

It was inspiring to see a young guy up there, speaking of liberalization and embracing NATO and the EU and moving to a western-style democracy. Business flourished. The old, regressive, anti-foreigner ways of Hungarians made way for the influx of western business and people, who brought money and skills and training to the Hungarian people.

The Central European University taught brilliant courses, and brought in young people from all over the world, who mixed with the local Hungarians and lead the boom in creative small businesses, and high tech innovation. (Ever used Prezi? Yup. Hungarians.)

Then Viktor Orban started to change.

And, long story short, he followed the EXACT path of power corrupting the idealistic people. He got a little power. The old guard pushed back against him, so he got petty and used his new power to squash them. Which created backlash amongst his people, who felt that he was abusing his power. Which led him away from his base that got him elected, and into the arms of the old authoritarians. Who were being run by Putin.

And now, you have a textbook Putin puppet despot, just like all of Putin's other fiefdoms (most of which end in "-istan").

But this one is in NATO. And is an EU country.

Putin now has a seat at the Big Table.