Hungary's former PM Orbán denies ordering seizure of Ukrainian bank convoy
Viktor Orbán (photo: Getty Images)
Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán denied involvement in the detention of Oschadbank cash-in-transit employees. He claimed that law enforcement officers had acted on their own initiative, according to Bloomberg and a statement by Orbán.
According to the former Hungarian prime minister, the counterterrorism police carried out the operation within their jurisdiction and without any instructions or directives from the government.
"They acted on their own authority. If it had been necessary, I would have given the order," he said, adding that the officers "deserve recognition and reward for their work."
The politician also once again claimed, without providing evidence, that the Ukrainian cash-in-transit employees had been traveling through Hungary illegally.
Orbán allegedly gave the order after all
In September, a former senior prosecutor wrote that the raid had been politically motivated. Numerous local media outlets also reported that Orbán himself had ordered the operation, which aligned with his Fidesz party's election rhetoric about a lawless and dangerous neighbor.
Law enforcement authorities later opened a criminal investigation into the unlawful detention of the cash-in-transit employees.
Former head of Hungary's counterterrorism agency János Hajdu, a longtime Orbán ally, has already been questioned as a suspect in the case.
Investigators also questioned three other rank-and-file police officers.
Attack on Oschadbank cash-in-transit employees
On March 5, Hungary took Oschadbank employees hostage and seized money from two armored bank vehicles. The vehicles were carrying millions of dollars and euros, as well as gold.
Hungary also violated three conventions during the detention of the Ukrainian cash-in-transit employees. The men were kept in handcuffs for an extended period and transported while blindfolded.
On May 6, Hungary returned Oschadbank's money and valuables to Ukraine after they had been seized by Hungarian security services.
On August 19, the case against the Ukrainian cash-in-transit employees, who had been detained on suspicion of alleged money laundering in Hungary, was closed due to a lack of evidence of a crime.
