Fidesz MEPs turn to Sassoli on ‘continuous intimidation’ of Ukraine Hungarians

Ruling Fidesz MEPs have turned to David Sassoli, the President of the European Parliament, concerning the “continuous intimidation” of Hungarians living in Ukraine.

In a letter signed by Kinga Gál and Tamás Deutsch, the leaders of the Fidesz-Christian Democrat group within the European People’s Party pointed to their earlier letters to Sassoli noting the “unjustified and violent action” of the Ukrainian security services against institutions catering for ethnic Hungarians last November.

During the same period of time, an extremist Ukrainian website put a Fidesz’s Hungarian Ukrainian MEP, Andrea Bocskor, on a “death list”, the MEPs noted. The Ukrainian authorities failed to address either case, they said.

In recent developments, the MEPs said that ahead of a visit of Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó to Ukraine, threats were sent to the Hungarian embassy in Kiev, to Hungarian consulates in Uzhorod (Ungvár) and Berehove (Beregszász), as well as to other Hungarian institutions.

The letters were signed “Ukrainian partiots” and threatened with “major bloodshed” against Hungarians if Szijjártó entered the country, they said.

The Hungarian embassy filed a report with the police on the issue, the MEPs said.

Gál and Deutsch called on Sassoli to issue a statement condemning the death threat against Bocskor.

They said such “unprecedented intimidation of our fellow Member” should not be left unanswered by the EP president.

“In the light of the established practice of this House, a deadly threat exceeds by far the limit where the President should make a plenary statement,” the letter said.

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The letter without change

Subject: Continuous intimidation of the Hungarian national community in Ukraine

Honourable President,

With reference to our previous letters on the subject, your response of 22 December 2020, as well as the latest developments, we are turning to you again with regard to the continuous intimidation the Hungarian national community in Ukraine has been exposed to.

In our first letter, we have offered a detailed description of an unjustified and violent action delivered by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on 30.11.2020 against several institutions of the Hungarian community. To date, Ukrainian authorities have failed to offer any explanation or justification to the intervention. As a result, members of the Hungarian community as well as leaders of the institutions in question and political representatives have voiced their growing concerns and expressed their fear from the recurrence of such arbitrary intimidating actions.

In our second letter, we have informed you about the intimidation of our fellow MEP, Mrs Andrea Bocskor by being listed on the „death-list” of the Ukrainian radical portal „Myrotvorets”. Unfortunately, the Ukrainian authorities have not reacted in any way to this alarming incident.

As for the latest developments are concerned, we would like to inform you that the day before the official visit of the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Péter Szijjártó to Ukraine on 27 January, the Embassy of Hungary in Kiev, the General Consulate of Hungary in Uzhhorod, the Consulate of Hungary in Berehove, the Subcarpathian Hungarian College Ferenc Rákóczi II in Berehove and the Ede Egan Subcarpathian Economic Development Centre received a letter from alleged “Ukrainian patriots” with the following massage: “a major bloodshed will happen, Hungarian blood will flow if your minister enters Ukraine”. The Hungarian Embassy in Kiev reported the case to the Police.

Mr. President,

We are on the view that such an unprecedented intimidation of our fellow Member cannot be left unanswered by the President of the European Parliament. In the light of the established practice of this House, a deadly threat exceeds by far the limit where the President should make a plenary statement. In the context of the above described situation, we would consider it appropriate for Mr. President to take a firm stand against this unparalleled threat.

We are looking forward to your kind cooperation.

Sincerely yours,

Kinga Gál MEP

President of the Hungarian EPP Delegation

Tamás Deutsch MEP

Head of the Hungarian EPP Delegation

Source: MTI