Vienna Court Orders Ex-Lawmaker Bereza to Remove False Claims About Oschadbank or Face €100,000 Fine

Oschadbank's Legal Battle at the Vienna Commercial Court

According to Главком: The Commercial Court of Vienna has ruled in favor of Oschadbank, granting an interim injunction to protect the bank's business reputation in connection with a case involving Hungary. Former Ukrainian lawmaker Boryslav Bereza is now banned from spreading allegations against Oschadbank and its management. He must also delete all previous posts on this matter. Each violation of the court order could result in a fine of up to €100,000. Oschadbank has notified Facebook and Telegram of the court's decision.

Background and Core of the Case

Boryslav Bereza, a former member of the Ukrainian parliament in its eighth convocation, had accused Oschadbank of involvement in a scheme to secretly move currency and gold using armored cash transport vehicles. He claimed these vehicles traveled through Austria and Serbia, and also implicated officials from the President's Office and the National Bank of Ukraine in coordinating the logistics. However, as of the morning of May 21, Bereza's Facebook posts on the topic had already been removed.

What triggered this court decision? On March 5, two Oschadbank cash transport vehicles were detained in Hungary, with seven employees inside. The vehicles were carrying substantial financial assets:

• $40 million
• €35 million
• Nine kilograms of gold from Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International to Ukraine

The detained Oschadbank employees later returned to Ukraine, and the bank plans to challenge the actions of the Hungarian immigration service. The vehicles were handed over to bank representatives and Ukrainian diplomats, with their return facilitated by Hungary's National Tax and Customs Administration. On May 6, Hungary returned the funds and valuables to Oschadbank.

According to Boryslav Bereza, 'Oschadbank used a different method for cash delivery compared to other major banks.'

This case has drawn significant attention, as the allegations against Oschadbank involve serious financial schemes that could undermine trust in Ukraine's banking system. The court's decision to ban the spread of such claims reflects the bank's efforts to safeguard its reputation and prevent potential business fallout. Meanwhile, the situation surrounding the detained armored vehicles and the return of assets may become a key factor in the case's further development, attracting scrutiny not only from Ukraine but also from the international community.

The ongoing legal issues surrounding Oschadbank extend beyond the recent court ruling against Boryslav Bereza. As Ukraine navigates its relationship with the EU, the government has decided to delay any formal action regarding Hungary's seizure of Oschadbank's assets. This situation highlights the complexities of international banking and diplomatic relations in the region. For more insights on this developing story, read about Ukraine's stance on the EU agreement concerning Hungary's actions here.