The foreign minister said Ukraine is using “the darkest methods reminiscent of the Soviet era” to intimidate its citizens.
Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, reacted on Facebook to recent press reports that Ukraine’s security service launched criminal proceedings against local councillors of the village of Siurte (Szürte), in western Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region, on suspicion of treason after they sang the Hungarian national anthem after a festive session.
Minister Szijjártó said the move proved that Kiev was “committed to European integration in words only”. He added that “contrary to the practices employed by Ukraine”, all European and international laws guaranteed national minorities the right to preserve their identity. The essence of Hungary’s policy for Hungarians beyond the border is that all Hungarians are responsible for each other, Minister Szijjártó said, adding that the Transcarpathian Hungarian community could continue to rely on Hungary.