Hungary grossly violates rights of Ukrainian cash-in-transit employees: handcuffs, blindfolds, medical aid only after loss of consciousness, pressure, and absence of lawyer - MFA

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has declared unacceptable and inadequate actions by the Hungarian authorities, calling them a cynical violation of international obligations, including the European Convention on Human Rights, the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and the Ukrainian-Hungarian Consular Convention, following the detention of seven employees of JSC State Savings Bank of Ukraine (Oschadbank) on March 5, 2026.

This was stated in a commentary on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

The ministry recalls that on March 5, 2026, Hungarian security forces on the Budapest ring road detained seven employees and two armored cash-in-transit vehicles of Oschadbank. They were transporting high-value cargo from Vienna to Ukraine as part of an international contract between Raiffeisen Bank International AG (Austria) and Oschadbank.

The cargo, transported from Austria to Ukraine, was documented according to international transport rules and current European customs procedures.

As the MFA emphasized, the Hungarian side was aware that the employees were unarmed. Nevertheless, the detention was carried out by the Hungarian Counter Terrorism Centre (TEK). An armored personnel carrier was deployed, and the personnel involved in the detention were armed with machine guns and grenade launchers.

"After the citizens returned to Ukraine, details of their detention and treatment became known, indicating gross violations by Hungary of its international legal obligations, particularly the European Convention on Human Rights and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Although the detainees had the status of witnesses, they were kept in handcuffs for 28 hours. They were transported with blindfolds on the entire time," the commentary reads.

Ukrainian citizens had their personal belongings seized, including mobile phones, and were deprived of the opportunity to report their detention or location to their families, the Ukrainian Embassy in Hungary, or their employer. Most of the personal items seized during the detention were not returned.

"When the health of one of the detainees—a person with a disability who requires a special diet and regular medication—deteriorated, medical assistance was provided only after he lost consciousness. Furthermore, the diabetic patient was forcibly injected with a drug that caused his blood sugar levels to spike and led to hypertension, necessitating his transport to a hospital," the commentary states.

The MFA emphasized that Hungarian law enforcement did everything possible to deprive the detained Ukrainians of support. Psychological and physical pressure was exerted on them.

Furthermore, in violation of all generally accepted norms, the Ukrainian citizens were not given the opportunity to provide testimony in their native language; Hungarian officials communicated with them in Russian.

The detainees were also denied access to legal counsel, with requests from both the detainees and a lawyer hired for their defense being ignored. Despite official requests from the Embassy of Ukraine for consular access and requests from the detainees themselves, Hungarian law enforcement made such a meeting impossible.

The investigative unit of the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary had initially informed the Ukrainian Embassy of the possibility of a consul being present during investigative actions, the MFA added.

"However, subsequently, the employees of the involved Hungarian services either avoided communication with representatives of the diplomatic mission or provided false information regarding the location of the Ukrainian citizens. The MFA of Ukraine considers such actions by the Hungarian authorities unacceptable and inadequate, representing a cynical violation of a number of provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and the Ukrainian-Hungarian Consular Convention," the ministry stated.

It is noted that although there was no evidence of the Ukrainian citizens’ involvement in illegal activities and they maintained the status of witnesses throughout, a decision was made by the Hungarian side on March 6, 2026, based on a submission from the Constitution Protection Office, to deport the Ukrainians and impose a three-year ban on entry into the Schengen Area. The Ukrainian side believes this "looks like a punishment for Ukrainian citizens who did not provide the testimony the Hungarian side wanted."

"We also reiterate the demand for the immediate return of the hijacked motor vehicles of the Ukrainian state bank and the valuables being transported. We emphasize the unacceptability of such arbitrary actions, which can be equated to hostage-taking and the kidnapping of property. We insist on the need for a decisive reaction at the European level to this state banditry," the commentary says.

The MFA of Ukraine demands that all persons responsible for the kidnapping of Ukrainian citizens, their ill-treatment, pressure, intimidation, and abuse, the denial of access to consular assistance and medications, the deprivation of communication, and other violations of their rights be held accountable, as well as for the theft of property and valuables belonging to Oschadbank.

The MFA emphasizes that the Ukrainian side will seek justice through all available national and international legal means. Ukraine reserves the right to take appropriate response measures.