The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed strong condemnation regarding the treatment of seven cashiers from Oschadbank, who were detained in Hungary. The incident, which occurred on March 6, has raised significant concerns about Hungary’s compliance with international legal obligations.
According to the ministry’s statement, the Hungarian authorities were aware that the cashiers were unarmed but still chose to detain them using armed anti-terrorism units, equipped with machine guns and grenade launchers. The cashiers were reportedly held in handcuffs for 28 hours, blindfolded during transport, and had their personal belongings, including mobile phones, confiscated.
In a troubling account, the ministry noted that one detainee, who has a disability and requires a special diet and regular medication, did not receive medical assistance until he lost consciousness. It was reported that he was forcibly administered medication that caused a spike in his blood sugar levels, leading to further health complications.
The ministry highlighted that the detainees faced both psychological and physical pressure. They were not allowed to provide testimony in Ukrainian and were instead spoken to in Russian. Furthermore, they were denied access to legal representation and were unable to meet with a Ukrainian consul.
Ukrainian officials criticized the Hungarian authorities for either avoiding communication with representatives from the Ukrainian embassy or providing false information about the detainees’ whereabouts. The ministry emphasized that the actions of the Hungarian authorities violate multiple provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
Additionally, the ministry condemned Hungary’s decision to impose a three-year ban on the cashiers’ entry into the Schengen Area following their deportation, viewing it as punitive for not providing the required testimony.
Ukrainian officials are demanding accountability for those responsible for the alleged abduction, mistreatment, and denial of consular assistance to the cashiers, as well as the confiscation of Oschadbank’s property. They have pledged to pursue justice through all available national and international legal avenues.
In a related development, Oschadbank confirmed that their employees were detained while transporting cash and valuables from Austria under a legal agreement with Raiffeisen Bank. The total value of the assets in the detained vehicles was reported to be $40 million, €35 million, and 9 kilograms of gold.
Subsequently, the Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration acknowledged the detention of the cashiers on suspicions of money laundering, stating that they promptly informed the Ukrainian consulate about the investigation.
In response to the incident, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised citizens to avoid travel to Hungary due to safety concerns. The head of the National Bank of Ukraine, Andriy Pyshnyy, announced that a team would be dispatched to Budapest to clarify the situation regarding the detention of the cashiers.
By the evening of March 6, the seven detained cashiers had returned to Ukraine, while the valuables remained in Hungary.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned Hungary for the treatment of Oschadbank cashiers detained under controversial circumstances. The ministry demands accountability for alleged violations of international law and mistreatment during the detention process.