In Budapest, on March 5, two collection vehicles of Oschadbank were unjustifiably detained, transporting tens of millions of foreign currency and kilograms of gold between Austria and Ukraine. Along with the vehicles, the Hungarian authorities detained seven Ukrainian citizens - employees of the bank. Their fate is currently unknown, and the transport is blocked on the territory of Hungarian law enforcement agencies.
Andriy Sybiga, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine sharply criticized the actions of Budapest, having declaredthat they bear the hallmarks of state terrorism and racketeering.
"In fact, it's about Hungary taking hostages and stealing money. If this is the 'force' that Mr. Orban was talking about today, then it's the force of a criminal gang," — the minister emphasized.
Ukraine has already sent an official note of protest demanding the immediate release of Ukrainian citizens. Kyiv also plans to appeal to the European Union to give a clear assessment of the actions of the Hungarian authorities.
The Foreign Ministry emphasizes that the situation is unprecedented and requires an international response.
Statement from Oschadbank
"Oschadbank" March 5 said about the theft of its employees, collection vehicles and valuables in Hungary. According to the bank, two collection vehicles, which were accompanied by seven employees of the collection team, were unjustifiably detained in a neighboring country during a planned transportation of foreign currency and bank metals between Raiffeisen Bank Austria and Oschadbank Ukraine.
"According to GPS signal data, the illegally detained Oschadbank cars are currently in the center of Budapest, near one of the law enforcement agencies of Hungary. The location of the cars has been confirmed by representatives of the Embassy of Ukraine in Hungary and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The location of the Oschadbank employees is currently unknown," — the statement says.
National Bank of Ukraine made an official statement, accusing the Hungarian authorities of illegally seizing the collection teams of the state-owned Oschadbank.
"The collection teams included seven bank employees. Their location is currently unknown, there is no mobile connection. According to GPS signal data, Oschadbank cars may be in the center of Budapest," — the banking regulator's statement notes.
The National Bank informs that the collection teams carried out another transportation of "a significant amount of foreign currency and banking metals" in accordance with the international contract between Raiffeisen Bank International and the Ukrainian "Oschadbank", transiting through Hungary. "The cargo was registered in accordance with international transportation rules and current European customs procedures," the statement emphasizes.
"We demand from the Hungarian authorities the immediate release of Ukrainian citizens and an official explanation of the reasons for their detention, as well as the provision of information about the location of the collection vehicles and the relevant cargo," — the NBU statement says.
