Hungary Detains Ukrainian Bank Cash Transport Carrying Cash and Gold

Cash Transport Vehicles Seized in Hungary

According to Главком: Hungarian authorities have detained two armored cash transport vehicles belonging to Ukraine's state-owned Oschadbank. The vehicles were seized on March 5 while transporting significant amounts of cash and bank-owned gold from Austria to Ukraine. The shipment was being conducted under an international interbank agreement and in compliance with standard European customs procedures. The current whereabouts of the seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit personnel remain unknown.

Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has contacted Hungary's Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, Imre Juhász, to clarify the circumstances of the detention.

“I have learned that Hungary has detained two armored vehicles of Ukraine's state Oschadbank, which were transporting significant sums of cash and bank gold from Austria to Ukraine. The transport was carried out under an international agreement between banks and in accordance with current European customs procedures. At the same time, the whereabouts of the seven cash-in-transit employees remain unknown,” he stated.

Furthermore, Ukraine has sent an official diplomatic note demanding the immediate release of the detained personnel. The National Bank of Ukraine has issued a statement condemning the seizure of the vehicles and the unlawful detention of the employees.

“On what grounds were Ukrainian citizens detained? Where exactly are they being held and under what conditions?” asked Dmytro Lubinets.

Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, Oleksiy Shaban, and his team have urgently traveled to Budapest. “He also took the initiative to hold an urgent online meeting to clarify all the circumstances of the situation and ensure the rights of our citizens are upheld,” added Lubinets. Meanwhile, Ukrainian official Andriy Sybiha characterized the actions of the Hungarian authorities, stating:

“In effect, this amounts to Hungary taking hostages and stealing money. If this is the 'strength' that Mr. Orbán spoke of today, then it is the strength of a criminal gang. This is state terrorism and racketeering.”

Concerns from Ukrainian Authorities

The situation has caused significant concern within the Ukrainian government, which is actively working to resolve the matter. This incident occurs against a backdrop of historically tense relations between Ukraine and Hungary, particularly regarding minority rights and Budapest's stance on the war in Ukraine.

This incident underscores the critical importance of adhering to international agreements and legal frameworks governing cross-border financial transport. The strong reaction from Ukrainian officials highlights the seriousness of the situation and the potential for diplomatic repercussions. Relations between Ukraine and Hungary, especially concerning financial and economic cooperation, could be significantly impacted.