Hungary returns seized Oschadbank funds and gold to Ukraine
Hungary has fully returned to Ukraine the funds and valuables belonging to Oschadbank that were seized by Hungarian special services in March this year.
Source: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)
Quote: "Today [6 May – ed.], the funds and valuables of Oschadbank that were seized by Hungarian special services in March of this year were returned. At the time, the Hungarian side unlawfully detained Ukrainian cash-in-transit officers. We brought our people back sooner, and now both the funds and the valuables are back on Ukrainian territory in full."
Details: Zelenskyy thanked Hungary for what he described as a constructive and civilised step.
He also expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian team "who fought for a fair decision" and defended Ukraine's interests.
Background:
- In early March, the National Bank of Ukraine reported that Hungarian authorities had detained Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards and seized a large amount of currency.
- The valuables in the seized vehicles amounted to US$40 million, €35 million and 9 kilograms of gold.
- Hungary later released the cash-in-transit workers and passed legislation providing for the confiscation of the currency and valuables from Oschadbank's cash-in-transit vehicles.
- A senior member of Orbán's government later effectively acknowledged that the incident involving the cash-in-transit guards was a response to Ukraine's "blocking" of the Druzhba oil pipeline.
- In April, it was reported that Zelenskyy planned to discuss with Péter Magyar, whose Tisza party won the elections in Hungary, the return of Oschadbank funds allegedly stolen by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
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