Russia trying to destabilize situation in Zakarpattia region - Klimkin

He stated this at a joint briefing with Finnish Foreign Minister Timo Soini on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Right now Russia is trying to destabilize the situation in Zakarpattia region, where we have the Hungarian community," Klimkin said.

According to him, it is known that the organizer of destabilizing measures against the Hungarian community in Zakarpattia region "disappeared to Transdniestria," which he said is under full control of Russia's FSB.

"Therefore, all those who demand that we talk about allegedly anti-Hungarian manifestations or even anti-Hungarian campaigns should turn to Moscow, the Kremlin and the central FSB office," the minister said.

At the same time, he expressed confidence that Moscow would continue to destabilize the situation in Zakarpattia region.

"We must consistently counteract this and for this purpose we are holding a permanent discussion in real time, both with the SBU and with the Interior Ministry. We agreed to strengthen our presence there. We will not allow them to destabilize the situation there, and we will not allow them to threaten our Hungarians - Ukrainian citizens of Hungarian descent," Klimkin said.

Earlier, police officers in Zakarpattia region identified Polish citizens involved in an arson attack on the office of the Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association (KMKSZ) in Uzhgorod on February 4. Then the building was not damaged. 

On February 27, another attempt was made to set fire to the office of the Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association in Uzhgorod. As a result, the building burned out from the inside. Zakarpattia regional police opened criminal proceedings under Part 2, Article 194 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (deliberate destruction or damage to property committed by arson).

op