Hungary refuses to return seized Ukrainian bank cash over Druzhba pipeline dispute
Hungary seized cash couriers together with Oschadbank money (photo: facebook.com/kormanyzat)
Hungary said seizure of Ukrainian cash couriers and theft of money was a response to the alleged blocking of the Druzhba oil pipeline by Ukraine. Budapest also does not rule out similar actions in the future, Hungarian Minister of Construction and Transport János Lázár said, Telex reports.
According to Lázár, stolen money and gold will remain in Hungary until the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline is restored.
The Hungarian minister also admitted that the operation to seize Oschadbank cash-in-transit vehicles was not accidental.
"We know that Ukrainians are very nervous. If we are being blackmailed, we cannot be so stupid as to give in. We did what we did not do by accident, and we will not return money to them," he said.
In addition, Lázár hinted that Budapest may continue to steal Ukrainian money if the issue with Druzhba remains unresolved.
"Money remains here for now, we are waiting for the pipeline to reopen, and we are waiting for new money transfers from Ukraine through Hungary," the Hungarian minister noted.
He also questioned the legality of transporting foreign currency to Ukraine. Lázár said a longer restoration of the pipeline would require a more careful investigation of the case.
Detention of cash couriers in Hungary
Hungary groundlessly detained two vehicles of the cash-in-transit service of Ukrainian Oschadbank, which were accompanied by seven cash couriers.
They were transporting 40 million dollars, 35 million euros, and 9 kilograms of gold as part of the regular transportation of foreign currency and gold between Raiffeisen Bank Austria and Oschadbank Ukraine.
On the same day, Ukraine managed to return seven couriers, but the property remains on the territory of Hungary. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry assured that Ukraine will take appropriate measures, including the initiation of sanctions, due to the detention of Ukrainian citizens in Hungary.
Hungary violated three conventions during the detention of Ukrainian cash couriers. Despite their status as witnesses, men were kept in handcuffs for more than a day and transported with their eyes covered.
At the same time, Hungarian law enforcement did everything possible to ensure detained Ukrainians received no support. In addition, psychological and physical pressure was applied to them.
More details about why Budapest detained couriers and whether there will be a currency shortage in the country due to this incident are in the material by RBC-Ukraine.
