Hungary’s Orbán party moves to seize Ukrainian state assets ahead of elections
Photo: Máté Kocsis, leader of the Fidesz faction in the Hungarian parliament (facebook.com/kocsismate)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s party, Fidesz, has submitted a bill to seize Ukrainian state assets that were taken by law enforcement last week, according to Telex and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha.
The bill, which proposes that Ukrainian money and gold be considered seized until the investigation is complete, was submitted to parliament by Fidesz parliamentary faction leader Máté Kocsis.
He has already presented it at a session of the Hungarian parliament’s national security committee. One committee member, a representative of Fidesz, said the government is examining how "the purpose and use of the transported assets could affect national security."
Opposition committee members expressed dissatisfaction that the bill is being considered on an accelerated schedule ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. They argued there was insufficient time to review such an initiative.
In response, Kocsis stated that the parliament will hold several sessions before the elections on April 12, so the bill allegedly needs to be passed urgently.
The national security committee ultimately recommended that parliament consider the bill on an exceptional basis and adopt it.
Ukraine’s reaction
Sibyha emphasized that after the theft of money from a Ukrainian state bank, Hungary is attempting to legalize such actions.
"This is a de facto recognition that Hungary's actions lack any legal grounds. They are just adding lawlessness on top of lawlessness," he added.
According to the minister, all those involved will be held accountable, primarily for the mistreatment of Ukrainian cash couriers, which violates the European Convention on Human Rights and the Vienna Convention.
Seizure of Oschadbank couriers
Last week, Ukraine was transporting large amounts of money and gold from Austria through Hungary.
Hungarian authorities conducted an operation to seize Ukrainian cash couriers along with state assets, sparking a diplomatic scandal.
Budapest justified the seizure of Ukrainian citizens as hostages over suspected money laundering.
On the same day, Ukraine managed to free the cash couriers. However, the money and gold remained in Hungary.
