Hungary to return armoured cash-in-transit vehicles to Ukraine, but not stolen funds – source

Hungarian authorities have agreed to return both seized cash-in-transit vehicles to Ukraine's state-run Oschadbank, but are keeping the money and gold that they were transporting.

According to two sources familiar with the case, investigators from Hungary's National Tax and Customs Administration, which the government tasked with conducting the formal investigation, told the Ukrainian side's lawyers that they intend to return the seized vehicles. The handover is due to take place on Thursday morning 12 March.

No details regarding the condition of the vehicles were provided. It is unclear what damage was caused during the break-in to the secure compartment (safe), in which the funds were being transported.

The gold and currency valuables unlawfully seized by the Hungarian authorities from the Oschadbank vehicles will remain in Hungary.

These actions comply with the law that Hungarian authorities urgently passed this week to create a legal basis for confiscating the funds that ended up in Hungary's special services after the robbery of two Oschadbank cash-in-transit vehicles. They are also supported by a resolution specially adopted by Viktor Orbán's government. The documents adopted by the Hungarian authorities made no mention of seizing the vehicles.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described Hungary's treatment of seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit workers and seizure of Oschadbank funds as "banditry". Ukraine's National Bank said Hungary has begun international blackmail against Ukraine.