Orbán's government says it is ready to keep "robbing" Ukrainian transit revenues because of "Druzhba"

János Lázár, Hungary's Minister of Construction and Transport, has effectively admitted that the seizure of Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards and confiscation of money was carried out in response to the alleged blocking of the Druzhba oil pipeline. He did not rule out similar "operations" in the future.

According to Telex, Lázár stated that the seized money and gold will remain in Hungary until Ukraine restores the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline.

He also acknowledged that the operation involving the seizure of Oschadbank cash-in-transit vehicles had not been accidental.

The minister said that they knew Ukrainians were very nervous and that if Hungary was being blackmailed, it could not be foolish enough to give in. He added that what they had done had not been accidental and that the money would not be returned.

Lázár hinted that Hungary could carry out similar operations in the future if the issue of the oil pipeline remains unresolved.

The official said that the money would remain in Hungary for the time being and that they were waiting for the pipeline to reopen, as well as for new money transfers from Ukraine through Hungary.

The Hungarian minister also questioned the legality of transporting foreign currency to Ukraine, adding that the longer the restoration of the pipeline takes, the more thorough the investigation into this case will have to be.

Seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards detained along with the valuables in Hungary last week returned to Ukraine on the evening of 6 March. However, the seized money and gold remained in Hungary.

Later, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry reported that officers of Hungary's Counterterrorism Centre arrived to detain the unarmed Ukrainian cash collectors with an armoured personnel carrier, machine guns and grenade launchers.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Ukraine intends to ensure accountability for everyone involved in the seizure of the funds and the rough treatment of the detained Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards, which he said went beyond the bounds of the law.