Kyiv asks citizens to avoid traveling to Hungary after arrest of 7 Ukrainians in Budapest

ISTANBUL

Ukraine on Friday urged its citizens not to travel to Hungary, following a dispute over the detention of seven Ukrainian state-owned bank employees by Budapest authorities, who claimed they were detained for suspected money laundering.

The Foreign Ministry in Kyiv underlined the “impossibility of guaranteeing their (citizens) safety against the backdrop of the arbitrary actions of the Hungarian authorities,” urging Ukrainians to prioritize other transit routes.

“We also draw the attention of Ukrainian and European businesses to the threat of arbitrary theft of property in Hungary and recommend that these risks be taken into account in the context of any business activity in this country,” it added.

The statement came following Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha’s announcement that Hungarian authorities “took hostage” seven employees of its state-owned Oschadbank in Budapest on Thursday, as well as seizing more than $80 million in cash and 9 kilograms of gold.

According to Sibyha, Ukrainians were operating two bank vehicles transporting cash between Austria and Ukraine as part of regular services between state banks.

Budapest authorities confirmed on Friday the arrest, claiming that seven Ukrainians, including one general from the security forces, have been apprehended and that an investigation into their involvement in money laundering has been launched.