Ukraine has returned the cash collectors detained in Hungary: what is known
6 March 22:57
Ukraine has secured the release of seven citizens who were detained in Hungary along with cash collection vehicles while transporting large sums of cash. They have already returned to Ukraine and crossed the state border.
This was announced by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
Ukrainians were held in Budapest
According to the head of the Foreign Ministry, Ukrainian diplomats, together with law enforcement agencies and banking institutions, worked to secure the release of Ukrainian citizens detained in Hungary.
“I would like to thank our team at the Foreign Ministry and the Ukrainian Embassy in Hungary, as well as our law enforcement agencies, state institutions, state banks, and everyone who helped secure their release,” Sibiga said.
He confirmed that all seven Ukrainians have already returned home.
The incident was discussed with EU and US ambassadors
Earlier, a special meeting with the ambassadors of the European Union and the US was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
At the meeting, representatives of the Ukrainian banking system provided detailed information on the situation with the detention of Ukrainian state bank collectors.
The incident involved Oschadbank employees who regularly transported funds between European banking institutions.
Ukraine speaks of possible provocation
The Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that the Ukrainian side had taken note of the statements made by Hungarian officials on the eve of the incident.
“We closely monitored all statements made by the Hungarian leadership and saw hints that some kind of provocation was being prepared. It looks like a kind of confession to a crime in advance,” Sibiga said.
According to him, Kyiv also does not rule out a Russian trace in this story.
“It seems to me that some trips by Hungarian officials to Moscow may be part of a chain of events. We see Russia’s hand in this and do not rule out further provocations,” the minister added.
Why Ukrainian cash collectors were detained
The incident occurred during the transportation of large sums of money between European banks.
Two cash transport vehicles were carrying:
- $40 million
- 35 million euros
- 9 kg of bank gold.
The Ukrainian side emphasizes that there were no legal grounds for detaining citizens and confiscating property.
Ukraine demands an investigation
After the incident, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies opened criminal proceedings on the following grounds:
- the abduction of Ukrainian citizens
- seizure of an official vehicle.
Sybiga also stated that Ukraine is considering sanctions against individuals involved in restricting the rights of Ukrainian citizens.
