Photos of bank assets returned to Ukraine by Hungary released
Ukraine's state-run Oschadbank has confirmed that Hungary has returned funds and valuables seized in Budapest in March.
Source: European Pravda, citing the bank's press service
Details: The assets were returned in full, with their integrity and packaging verified by Oschadbank representatives.
The shipment consisted of US$40 million, €35 million and 9 kg of bank gold.
The bank also released photos of the recovered valuables.
Yurii Katsion, Chairman of the Board of Oschadbank, who led the bank's team in Hungary, said: "The unlawful detention of the cash-in-transit team and Hungary's seizure of the funds and valuables belonging to a Ukrainian state-run bank for two months constituted a violation of numerous international norms and rules of interstate cooperation. We are now grateful to Hungary for its constructive approach. The handover of the funds was carried out in line with proper European practices of international cooperation."
Background:
- On 6 May, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Hungary had returned the seized funds and valuables.
- The incident dates back to 6 March, when Hungarian authorities detained Ukrainian cash-in-transit personnel and seized a large amount of currency.
- The convoy had been transporting cash and gold worth about US$80 million from Raiffeisen Bank in Austria to Oschadbank in Ukraine.
- Hungary later released the personnel but passed a law enabling the confiscation of the assets.
- Fedir Shandor, Ukraine's Ambassador to Hungary, previously stressed that it is important not only to return the property but also to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
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