Ukraine's foreign minister: Unconfirmed reports say five cash-in-transit staff abducted in Hungary are being taken to border
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said there are public but as yet officially unconfirmed reports that five of the seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit staff abducted by Hungary are being taken to the border to be deported.
Source: Sybiha during a press briefing, as cited by Ukrinform and reported by European Pravda
Details: Sybiha said the Hungarian side has denied the Ukrainian cash-in-transit staff any contact with consuls, deprived them of any means of communication, and is holding them in a location unknown to Kyiv.
Quote: "There is public information that has not yet been officially confirmed that five citizens are being taken to the border to be deported. As minister, I cannot confirm this to you. I only have information from public sources. The consuls have no confirmation."
Details: Sybiha stressed that Ukraine's demand for the release of the citizens and the convoy remains unchanged. Kyiv considers Hungary's actions an unacceptable act of state racketeering and terrorism.
"We will act within international law, fulfilling all our obligations. We will not allow the humiliation of our citizens, provocations against Ukraine, or the seizure of Ukrainian property," the minister noted.
He also said sanctions should be imposed against the individuals involved in restricting the Ukrainian citizens' rights.
Quote: "There is no legal basis for this. We proceed from the fact that there are no grounds for detention or for such disproportionate measures. This is a violation of international law, since the transportation was being carried out according to the necessary procedures and rules defined in the banking sector for the transportation of valuables of this nature."
Background:
- Earlier on Friday, the Hungarian government said it planned to deport seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards who have been detained by the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary.
- The National Bank of Ukraine was the first to report the seizure of Ukrainian cash-in-transit staff and a large amount of currency. The employees, from Oschadbank, were transporting the cash from Austria to Ukraine.
- Sybiha described the actions of the Hungarian authorities as "terrorism and hostage-taking", and the ministry has advised Ukrainian citizens to refrain from travelling to Hungary.
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