The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) opened a criminal case on the performance of the Hungarian anthem by the deputies at an official event of the territorial community in the Transcarpathian region. This was reported by the Ukrainian News agency.
Hungarian deputies were also accused of encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of the country and of forging documents: “The circumstances of the actions of the deputies of the Syurtovskaya rural united territorial community in the Transcarpathian region are being investigated in criminal proceedings under Part 2 of Article 110 – an encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine, Part 1 article 111 – treason and part 3 of article 358 – forgery ”.
On December 1, it became known that the SBU conducted mass searches in the Transcarpathian region at a local charitable foundation, checking information about the involvement of Hungarians in activities aimed at violating state sovereignty. The actions of law enforcement officers angered the Hungarian authorities – they promised to raise the issue in NATO.
Relations between Ukraine and Hungary have escalated amid local elections in Transcarpathia. On October 26, the Ukrainian side denied entry to two high-ranking Hungarian officials due to campaigning in the region. Officially, their names were not disclosed, according to sources, they are politician Istvan Grezha and Hungarian Secretary of State, responsible for national policy in the government, Arpad Janos Potapi.
On voting day, Hungarian Foreign and Foreign Trade Minister Peter Siyjarto called on Ukrainian Hungarians to vote for the incumbent Mayor of Beregovo, the representative of the Hungarian community Zoltan Babiak and the Hungarian Culture Society of Transcarpathia party. As a result, this political force won the elections.
In 2019, a scandal erupted between Ukraine and Hungary. A video from the Hungarian consulate in Transcarpathia appeared on the network, in which the consul handed out passports to local residents and brought them to an oath of allegiance to Hungary. Later it turned out that these were not passports, but a package of documents for obtaining citizenship. Ukraine expelled a diplomat from the country; Hungary responded in a mirror image.
