Sikorski calls Hungary’s detention of Ukrainian cash collectors ‘mistake’ and election tactic
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski described Hungary’s detention of Ukrainian cash collectors as part of an election campaign in which hostility toward Ukraine has become a central theme.
He said this on Saturday in Warsaw, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.
Sikorski noted that he did not want to go into the details of the incident but said he trusted his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha, who had written on social media that the case involved a routine transfer to a Ukrainian state bank.
“Ultimately, the fact that the Hungarian authorities have already released these individuals would indicate that this was a mistake and probably an element of a political election campaign, the main theme of which, unfortunately, has become hostility toward Ukraine from the Hungarian side. And this hostility, as we know, unfortunately, is not only propaganda but also real,” the Polish top diplomat said.
According to him, Hungary has for years blocked payments from the European budget benefiting the armed forces of EU member states, including 2 billion zlotys (about €500 million) intended for the modernization of the Polish military.
In addition, Hungary is blocking the 20th package of EU sanctions against Russia. In this regard, Sikorski said he was shocked that the Hungarian government, which itself once experienced invasion, now “has more sympathy for the aggressor than for the victim of aggression.”
As reported by Ukrinform, during the night of March 6, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that in Budapest Hungarian authorities had taken seven Ukrainian citizens – employees of Oschadbank – hostage and seized the money they were transporting. According to him, the seven employees were traveling in two bank vehicles in transit between Austria and Ukraine and were carrying cash as part of regular servicing between state banks.
Later that day, Hungary’s tax authority confirmed the detention of seven Oschadbank cash collectors and two vehicles carrying cash, stating that a criminal investigation had been launched on suspicion of money laundering.
Subsequently, Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs said the seven Ukrainian cash collectors would be expelled from Hungary.
That evening, the Oschadbank collectors returned to Ukraine.
On March 6, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry recommended that Ukrainian citizens refrain from traveling to Hungary following the abduction of the employees and the seizure of Oschadbank property in Budapest.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that further provocations from Hungary should be expected.