Ukraine accuses Hungary of taking 'hostage' bank staff carrying $40 mn

Deutsche Tageszeitung - Ukraine accuses Hungary of taking 'hostage' bank staff carrying $40 mn

Ukraine accuses Hungary of taking 'hostage' bank staff carrying $40 mn / Photo: © AFP/File

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Hungary on Friday of taking "hostage" a group of Ukrainian bank employees who were reportedly transporting $40 million and nine kilograms of gold.

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Hungary is one of the few European countries to maintain close ties with Russia since its Ukraine offensive and has consistently opposed military aid for Kyiv.

"Today in Budapest, Hungarian authorities took seven Ukrainian citizens hostage," Sybiha posted on X.

"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.

The State Savings Bank of Ukraine (Oschadbank) said that the bank staff were transporting $40 million and nine kilograms of gold" when they were detained.

"We are talking about Hungary taking hostages and stealing money," Sybiha added on X.

"This is state terrorism and racketeering."

Oschadbank said that the location of its employees was unknown, but that GPS signal data indicated their vehicles were in central Budapest "near one of the law enforcement agencies of Hungary".

There was no immediate reply to queries by AFP to the Hungarian government.

(U.Beriyev--DTZ)

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