On photo: Vladimir Zelensky
“An important step in relations with Hungary: today the funds and valuables of Oschadbank, which were seized by Hungarian special services in March this year, were returned. Then the Hungarian side wrongfully detained Ukrainian collectors. We returned the people faster, and now the funds and valuables are already on Ukrainian territory in full,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday.
The president thanked Hungary for a constructive and civilized step. He also thanked everyone in the Ukrainian team who fought for a fair decision and defended Ukraine’s interests, the Finance Ministry said.
The conflict arose on March 5, when law enforcers of the neighboring country stopped two collection vehicles of Oschadbank. The vehicles were performing a flight between the Austrian branch of Raiffeisen Bank and Ukraine, carrying significant amounts of cash: 40 million US dollars, 35 million euros, as well as nine kilograms of gold. The cargo was accompanied by seven employees of the bank. Subsequently, the Hungarian authorities released the detained collectors and returned the vehicles, but refused to return the valuables themselves. According to a special government decree, “the seized funds and gold will be kept under Budapest’s control for at least 60 days.
