Hungarian passports no longer protect Hungarians living in Ukraine

Hungarian media outlets reported yesterday that Hungarian men living in Ukraine, having Hungarians citizenship and passport, can no longer cross the border. After Russia’s invasion, many fled the country because they did not want to go to war against Moscow’s army. Most come to Hungary by using their Hungarian passport. However, many of them returned after the first shock of the invasion since work on the fields started in March. Now it seems they no longer can get out if the war arrives at the westernmost region of Ukraine inhabited by more than 150,000 Hungarians.

It is easy to get a Hungarian passport

According to atv.hu, those Ukrainian citizens who try to cross the border as Hungarian citizens, using their Hungarian passports risk a lot. That is because authorities closely monitor people going to Ukraine and do not let them return despite their Hungarian passports. As a result, many families lose their financial safety because military-age men working in Hungary cannot cross the border.

Ukrainian laws do not allow dual citizenship. However, even some members of the political and business elite hold dual citizenship. According to origo.hu, members of the previous governments had Canadian, American, French, Israeli, Italian etc. passports.

National minorities did the same: Romanians, Poles, Hungarians acquired EU citizenship and passports.

In the case of Hungarians, the second Orbán government’s modifications in the Hungarian citizenship law made it very easy to attain citizenship.

• Read also: Hungarian passports save lives in Ukraine – here is how

Keeping a close eye on military-age men

Based on Ukrainian media information, authorities pay special attention to the citizenship of military-age men. A woman told ATV that border guards did not let her husband out of Ukraine. She said he worked in Hungary, had a permanent residence there, but the police did not allow him to cross the border. 

People between 18 and 60 can cross the border only under special circumstances. Therefore, those returning home now risk that they might not be able to leave the country again. More than 10,000 Ukrainians crossed the Hungarian border only on Monday, and most of them continued their journey.

People living in Transcarpathia say that they cannot find jobs there. Therefore, many military-age people, who used to work abroad before the war, are at home now. 

• Read also: Viktor Orbán listed as enemy of the state on a Ukrainian death list

More Ukrainian refugees are expected

György Bakondi, Chief Security Advisor to the Hungarian Prime Minister, said that he expected more refugees after the Russian rocket attack on Tuesday in Transcarpathia. He added that attacks against weapon stores would continue, so more people would choose to flee from Transcarpathia, a region that was previously considered safe.

He highlighted that provided more refugees came to Hungary, the country was ready to provide them with accommodation, help and provision. Regarding illegal migration, he said that the number of human traffickers and illegal migrants doubled compared to the same period last year – KárpátHír reported.

Read alsoThe Russians are already shelling Transcarpathia, which is also inhabited by Hungarians!

Source: atv.hu, KárpátHír