Hungary’s relationship with Russia has repeatedly drawn criticism.
(Photo: dpa)
Vienna Ukraine and Hungary agree on one thing: if prisoners of war are released from Russian custody, that’s a good thing. Nevertheless, the dispute over eleven captured Ukrainian soldiers who were transferred from Moscow to Budapest without Kiev’s knowledge has further worsened bilateral relations. The EU Commission also called on Hungary to quickly clarify its role.
The conflict began with a report on the website of the Russian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate on June 8: At the request of the Hungarian side, a group of prisoners of war from the western Ukrainian region of Transcarpathia had been transferred to Budapest. Patriarch Kirill himself was the godfather.
Since then, the action has caused Hungary’s government to have a hard time explaining it. When the Reuters news agency asked for confirmation the same day, a government spokesman called the transfer fake news. But just hours later, Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen confirmed the reports.
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