Ukraine lodges protest with Hungarian ambassador over ill-treatment of detained cash-in-transit guards
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry summoned Hungarian Ambassador Antal Heizer on 9 March and lodged a protest over Hungary's violations of its international legal obligations regarding the detention of seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards.
Source: a statement by the ministry, as reported by European Pravda
Details: The Foreign Ministry stated that Hungary violated the European Convention on Human Rights, the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the Ukrainian-Hungarian Consular Convention in its treatment of illegally detained Ukrainian citizens who were transporting money and valuables between Vienna and Kyiv.
Quote: "The Hungarian side has been informed of the position that the use of intimidation measures and psychological pressure against Ukrainian citizens, as well as the excessive use of force, is unacceptable."
Details: The ambassador was also told that despite an official request sent through diplomatic channels, Ukrainian consular officials were not granted access to the detainees, which constitutes a gross violation of the aforementioned international legal acts.
The Ukrainian side said it wants to receive information regarding the legislative initiative put forward by the head of the Fidesz parliamentary faction, particularly the subject of regulation of the initiative and the goals of the future law.
Background:
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Ukraine intends to ensure accountability for everyone involved in the seizure of the funds and the rough treatment of the detained Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards, which went beyond the legal framework.
- On 9 March, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported that fighters from Hungary's Counterterrorism Centre who detained the seven cash-in-transit guards from Ukraine's state-run Oschadbank were equipped with an armoured personnel carrier, machine guns and grenade launchers.
- The seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards detained together with the valuables in Hungary last week returned to Ukraine on the evening of 6 March.
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