Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has criticized Hungary’s recent legislative initiative aimed at legitimizing the seizure of valuables from Ukrainian cash transporters. He described this move as indicative of the unlawful nature of Hungary’s actions regarding the detained individuals.
Sybiha stated that Hungary’s decision to draft a bill for the continued retention of assets seized from the cash transporters of Oschadbank demonstrates a descent into lawlessness. He remarked, “Following the theft of funds from a Ukrainian state bank, they are now introducing legislation to legalize the unlawful seizure. This effectively acknowledges that Hungary’s actions lack any legal justification, compounding illegality with further illegality.”
The minister emphasized Ukraine’s intention to hold accountable those involved in the seizure of funds and the mistreatment of the detained cash transporters, actions he deemed to have exceeded legal boundaries.
This statement comes in response to the ruling Fidesz party’s proposal to facilitate the prolonged detention of the seized assets belonging to Oschadbank. On March 9, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Hungarian anti-terrorism units had apprehended unarmed Ukrainian cash transporters using armored vehicles and heavy weaponry.
Simultaneously, Budapest has continued to assert that the confiscated funds may be linked to what it terms the “Ukrainian military mafia.”
In a related development, seven Ukrainian cash transporters detained in Hungary last week returned to Ukraine on the evening of March 6.
For further details on this incident, which has heightened tensions between Ukraine and Hungary, see the article titled “Terrorist on the Other Side of the Tisza: Why Orban Took Ukrainian Hostages and How Kyiv Should Respond.”
Ukrainian officials have condemned Hungary's legislative efforts to legitimize the seizure of assets from Ukrainian cash transporters, describing it as an unlawful act. The situation has escalated tensions between the two nations, with Ukraine vowing to hold accountable those responsible for the actions taken against its citizens.