The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a warning to its citizens, advising against travel to Hungary after the arrest of seven employees from Oschadbank. This incident, described as “arbitrary” by officials, has raised concerns over the safety of Ukrainians in Hungary.
In a statement, the ministry highlighted the kidnapping of the seven Ukrainian nationals and the theft of state bank assets in Budapest. They emphasized the inability to ensure the safety of travelers due to the actions of Hungarian authorities.
“In light of the abduction of seven Ukrainian citizens and the theft of property belonging to a state bank in Budapest, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that Ukrainian citizens refrain from traveling to Hungary due to the inability to guarantee their safety amid the arbitrary actions of the Hungarian government,”
the statement read. The ministry also urged Ukrainians to consider alternative transit routes that do not involve Hungarian territory.
“We also draw the attention of Ukrainian and European businesses to the risks of arbitrary property seizure in Hungary and recommend factoring in these risks when engaging in any business activities in the country,”
the ministry added.
Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported that Hungarian authorities had denied access to the detained bank employees for Ukrainian consuls.
Details on the Arrests of Oschadbank Employees
On the night of March 6, Minister Sybiha revealed that Hungarian authorities had detained seven Oschadbank employees who were transporting cash on an armored vehicle from Austria. Oschadbank confirmed that their staff had gone missing, along with the armored vehicles and valuables.
According to GPS data, the bank’s vehicles are currently located in central Budapest, near a Hungarian security agency’s building. The bank noted that its employees were transporting money and valuables under an international agreement with Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank, following international transport regulations and European customs procedures. The total value of the assets in the detained vehicles was reported to be $40 million, €35 million, and 9 kilograms of gold.
Informed sources indicated that the seized armored vehicles are now held at a secure site of the local Anti-Terrorism Center.
Subsequently, Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration confirmed the arrest of the seven Ukrainians on suspicion of money laundering. They also stated that the Hungarian authorities promptly notified the Ukrainian consulate about the initiation of the investigation.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised against travel to Hungary following the detention of seven Oschadbank employees. The ministry cited safety concerns amid ongoing investigations into alleged money laundering and arbitrary actions by Hungarian authorities.