Hungary will deport all seven Oschadbank employees detained on Thursday, Prime Minister Zoltán Kovács, the international representative of the government’s cabinet, said.
“Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration identified the backgrounds of seven Ukrainian nationals detained in connection with large cash and gold shipments transported through Hungary. Authorities found the operation was supervised by a former general of the Ukrainian Security Service, with a former major of the Ukrainian Air Force acting as deputy and assisted by individuals with military experience. Based on these findings, all seven individuals will be expelled from Hungary,” he said on X.
As reported, two cash-in-transit vehicles belonging to the state-owned Oschadbank were seized in Hungary. They were transporting cash and precious metals between Raiffeisen Bank (Austria) and Oschadbank (Ukraine) as part of a regular service between the state-owned banks. According to Oschadbank, the vehicles were carrying $40 million, EUR 35 million, and 9 kg of gold.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated that Hungarian authorities effectively took seven Oschadbank employees hostage while driving cash-in-transit vehicles and stole the money. He stated that the reasons for the detention, as well as the whereabouts of the Ukrainians, are unknown. Ukraine has sent an official note to Hungary demanding the immediate release of the citizens and plans to appeal to the European Union for a legal assessment of Budapest’s actions.
The National Bank of Ukraine confirmed reports that Hungarian authorities have detained cash-in-transit vehicles and seven bank employees. According to sources at Interfax-Ukraine, the vehicles are located in the restricted area of the Anti-Terrorism Center in Budapest, while the employees’ whereabouts are still unknown.
The Hungarian publication Index later reported that the Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) confirmed the detention of seven Ukrainian citizens who were detained by Hungarian authorities on the night of March 6. They are suspected of money laundering.
As of the morning of March 6, Ukrainian consuls have not been granted access to the Ukrainian citizens—Oshchadbank cash collection team employees—who were taken hostage in Budapest, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated.
