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Day by day, so on Monday, the Hungarians of Transcarpathia woke up to another threat. An anti-Hungarian text was written in the building of the mayor’s office in Tiszapeterfalva on behalf of the far-right sector Pravij (right sector). The incident coincides with the events of the last two weeks:
- there have been similar threatening messages,
- the Ukrainian secret service, the SZBU, raided the offices and foundations of the Hungarian Cultural Association of Transcarpathia (KMKSZ) and the home of the organization’s president, László Brenzovics,
- Fidesz MEP Andrea Bocskor has been blacklisted,
- and criminal proceedings were initiated against the representatives of the Szürte people who sang the Hungarian national anthem.
But let’s not confuse the SZBU’s activities with nationalist threats. The Ukrainian press also deals with the situation in Transcarpathia and the surrounding diplomatic conflict between Budapest and Kiev, and does not necessarily do so in a friendly tone.
The intimidating actions of the nationalists are presumably just by-products of the conflict between Budapest and Kiev and their press coverage in a country where separatism is a particularly sensitive issue due to the conflict in eastern Ukraine that erupted in 2014.
A story that unfolds in two threads
Csilla Fedinec, an employee of the Social Sciences Research Center, points out that the intimidating actions against Hungarians and the SZBU investigations are two separate stories. According to him, the resentment of the relationship between Budapest and Kiev is related to the autumn municipal elections, where Hungarian politicians in public in Transcarpathia campaigned in favor of the Hungarian candidates. And Ukraine’s electoral law explicitly prohibits it.
Money doesn’t hurt
The SZBU carried out house searches in Hungarian institutions on suspicion of separatism and economic abuse. According to observers, it is doubtful that this is an irregular use of Hungary’s financial assistance, as these amounts for economic development and institutional development are transferred to Ukraine’s accounts and accounted for in a transparent manner.
Due to the war in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainians are particularly sensitive to anything that may suggest separatism. As a result of the conflict, the SZBU extended its control to other parts of the country to prevent suspicious activities.
Relations between Hungary and Ukraine reached a low point after local elections in late October. Despite protests from Kiev, the Hungarian government actively participated in the campaign.
Ukraine can identify the activities of the Hungarian government with the participation of Russia in the Donetsk basin. The separatist areas of eastern Ukraine have now been completely Russified, the region is financed by Russia and local politics is dictated by Moscow.
Apparently, Kiev’s warnings that the Hungarian government should refrain from interfering in Ukraine’s internal affairs have fallen on deaf ears, although the Ukrainian government has indicated in hindsight that it does not want the situation to worsen. According to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba, they are also not looking for a battle with Budapest because Hungary is a neighboring state and a member of the EU and NATO.
But the situation still appears to be difficult.
Some fear that the Ukrainian authorities may resort to a method against which Budapest would be defenseless:
Hungarian politicians can be brought to justice for treason.
It’s a matter of home affairs for diplomatic fights
Treason can be committed against the security of a country by its own citizens, for example, with the intention of violating the territorial integrity and constitutional order of the country while maintaining contact with a foreign government or organization.
In Ukraine, treason is punishable by three to ten years in prison.
It would be enough to bring even one person to justice to give a reason to end the relations between the Hungarian organizations in Transcarpathia and the Hungarian government, and to stop the financial support of the Hungarian communities and institutions.
And Budapest would be powerless in this case: since Ukraine does not recognize dual citizenship, it applies Ukrainian law to Ukrainian citizens, even if it has the citizenship of another person. It would not be possible to rescue those involved through diplomacy.
The danger in all this is starting a process that can no longer be reversed over time. At least in Transcarpathia, many fear him.
(Cover photo: Meeting of Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade (b) and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmitro Kuleba, at the building of the Transcarpathian County State Administration Office in Uzhhorod on September 23, 2020. Photo: MTI / KKM / Mátyás Borsos)
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