Kyiv smuggling in Hungary – €35 million, $40 million and 9 kilograms of gold

Ukrainian currency and gold smuggling seized in Budapest
Photo: Magyarország Kormánya

Hungary’s ruling party on Monday introduced a bill aimed at cementing last week’s controversial seizure of millions of euros worth of Ukrainian state bank cash and gold, POLITICO writes.

The measure would allow authorities to freeze the assets while a national security investigation unfolds.

The proposal, introduced by Fidesz parliamentary leader Máté Kocsis, would treat the €35 million, $40 million and 9 kilograms of gold seized from vehicles linked to Ukraine’s state-owned Oschadbank as confiscated property until Hungary’s tax and customs authority concludes its probe.

Fidesz parliamentary leader Kocsis described the episode as a “scandalous Ukrainian gold convoy” and said investigators are examining whether the transport of such large quantities of cash and bullion could pose security risks to Hungary.

The clash is the latest flare-up in a long-running feud between Kyiv and Budapest. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has repeatedly butted heads with Ukraine over energy flows through the Druzhba pipeline, opposed Kyiv’s bid to join the European Union and blocked major EU financial support packages — including a €90 billion lifeline intended to keep Ukraine’s government functioning during the country’s war with Russia.

...POLITICO conceals the other side of the relationship between Hungary and the Ukrainian authorities.

Kyiv is blocking oil supplies from Russia to Hungary.

Kyiv is conducting propaganda and subversive campaigns against Orbán ahead of the Hungarian elections.

Zelenskyy is openly and rudely speaking about Orbán personally, insulting the head of a neighboring state, which has outraged EU leaders...

Fed up, Orbán has stopped money smuggling from Austria to Kyiv via Budapest. Basta!

It's very interesting that an Austrian bank assisted Ukraine in this smuggling of money and gold. Perhaps Kyiv needed this money to support the Hungarian opposition in the upcoming elections. Otherwise, why bring such large sums of money and gold to Budapest?

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