The leader of the "Tysa" party, which won the parliamentary elections in Hungary, Peter Madyar, is ready to discuss the confiscated assets of "Oschadbank" with Ukraine after taking office as Prime Minister.
Volodymyr Zelensky stated during the telethon "Unified News" that the current Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, "just stole" the cargo of Ukrainian cash-in-transit vehicles.
So now the Ukrainian leader wants to discuss this issue with Hungary's future Prime Minister – Peter Madyar.
'We would still like to get the money back. They took some of our money... We'll talk to Madyar. I think they should return it,' he said.
Instead, Madyar replied that negotiations could take place once he takes the oath.
'We don't know the reality; we also saw propaganda news,' he said, explaining that many details of the seizure of 'Oschadbank' cash-in-transit personnel in Hungary are 'unclear.'
Meanwhile, Madyar urged everyone to be patient and use common sense, as well as called for the opening of the 'Druzhba' pipeline.
On March 5 in Budapest, Hungarian authorities detained seven Ukrainians – employees of the state 'Oschadbank' – who were transporting money between Austria and Ukraine. Their cash-in-transit vehicles contained $40 million, €35 million, and 9 kg of gold.
According to media reports, the vehicles were hidden in the territory of Hungary's Anti-Terrorism Center, and the whereabouts of the bank employees were unknown for a long time.
Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated that Hungary effectively took people hostage and stole the money, while Ukrainian consuls were not allowed to see them.
The Hungarian side explained the detention by alleging money laundering and added that the vehicles supposedly contained 'money from the Ukrainian military mafia.'
In Ukraine, a case has already been opened regarding the abduction of the cash-in-transit personnel, demanding the return of the vehicles and valuables.
Subsequently, all seven cash-in-transit personnel were released. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the Hungarian authorities held them for 28 hours in handcuffs and transported them with their eyes blindfolded.
Later, Hungary agreed to return the stolen cash-in-transit vehicles to Ukraine, but without the cash.
Recently, the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary (NAV) released a video as 'new evidence' in the case concerning the seizure of Ukrainian cash-in-transit vehicles. 'Oschadbank' claims it is fabricated.
