Ukraine Demands Return of Seized Oschadbank Assets from Hungary

Andrii Sybiha's call comes after the detention of seven Ukrainian citizens who were employees of Oschadbank. These individuals were operating armored banking vehicles that were transporting funds from Austria to Ukraine when Hungarian authorities intervened, leading to the seizure of cash and precious metals.

In a post on social media platform X, Sybiha condemned the incident, labeling it an act of 'state banditism' and 'racketeering.' He emphasized that the funds seized belong to Ukraine's state-owned Oschadbank and, by extension, to Ukrainian taxpayers. Sybiha's remarks followed confirmation from Hungary’s tax authority, which stated that a criminal investigation had been initiated, citing suspicions of money laundering related to the operation.

However, according to Sybiha, there were no valid legal grounds for the detention of the armored vehicles or their crew. He stressed that Hungarian actions contravened international law, asserting Ukraine's rights over the finances involved.

The situation escalated further when Hungarian officials announced plans to expel the detained cash collectors. The repercussions of these actions prompted Sybiha to urge European allies to voice their condemnation as a show of solidarity with Ukraine.

He insisted that Hungary must return the assets immediately to avert further diplomatic tensions. The incident has raised significant concerns regarding the treatment of Ukrainian state assets abroad and has implications for diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Hungary.

As the matter continues to unfold, the attention of the international community is on how Hungary will respond to calls from Kyiv and its partners. Reports indicate that the seven Oschadbank employees have since been released and have crossed back into Ukraine, but the controversy surrounding the initial detention remains a focal point of diplomatic discussion.