Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Friday accused Hungary of taking “hostage” a group of Ukrainian bank employees who were reportedly transporting $40 million and nine kilograms of gold.
Hungary remains one of the few European nations maintaining close relations with Russia since its offensive against Ukraine and has repeatedly opposed military assistance for Kyiv.
Sybiha wrote on the social media platform X, “Today in Budapest, Hungarian authorities took seven Ukrainian citizens hostage.”
“These seven Ukrainians are employees of state-owned Oschadbank, who were operating two bank cars transiting between Austria and Ukraine and carrying cash as part of regular services between state banks,” he said.
Oschadbank, the State Savings Bank of Ukraine, said its staff were transporting $40 million and nine kilograms of gold at the time they were detained.
Sybiha added, “We are talking about Hungary taking hostages and stealing money. This is state terrorism and racketeering.”
Oschadbank said it had been unable to determine the whereabouts of its employees. However, GPS signal data from the vehicles suggested they were in central Budapest, “near one of the law enforcement agencies of Hungary”.
The Hungarian government did not immediately respond to requests for comment from AFP.
