PHOTOS, VIDEO: Demonstrations held in Budapest against the Russian aggression

Several opposition movements and a political party held demonstrations yesterday condemning Russia’s war in Ukraine on the first anniversary of its breakout. Below, you may read what happened and check out some photos and a video. Moreover, Budapest’s famous Fisherman’s Bastion shone in the colours of the Ukrainian national flag in the evening.

Budapest demonstration with Mayor Karácsony

Budapest stands by Ukraine, by peace, solidarity and Euro-Atlantic cooperation, the city’s mayor said on Friday, marking the Ukraine war’s first anniversary, adding that standing by Ukraine was a matter of faith and conviction, dictated by humanity and morals. “There will be peace only if Ukraine wins,” Gergely Karácsony said, opening a poster exhibition. “And peace will be brought about if Ukraine’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity is restored for which Euro-Atlantic cooperation and solidarity are essential.”

“The war is there, in the eyes, in the look…” he said. Karácsony said his message to politicians who “still preach about a ceasefire, talk back and forth about sanctions and business interests, who simply ignore solidarity and rub shoulders with aggressors” was that “you should be brave not only in words, but in your deeds”. “Have the courage to go to Kyiv and Bucha, and look people there in the eye! And if that is too much to ask, you just come out here, and look in the eyes … and then feel ashamed!”

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The Budapest mayor, of the opposition, said “Hungary is not synonymous with the government that has lost its moral compass, as well as its allies”. “We haven’t lost our moral compass, neither have we lost our friends. We cannot accept that Hungary again stands on the wrong, ‘evil’ side of history.” He noted that Budapest had already provided accommodation to some 50,000 Ukrainian refugees and distributed 300,000 meal portions to them. István Balog, the charge d’affaires of Ukraine to Budapest, said 24 February, 2022 was one of the most tragic days ever for Ukrainian people. In the moment Russia attacked Ukraine, “our hearts got frozen and the open wounds we have suffered ever since could only heal if we get rid of the terrible evil that slyly attacked our land,” he said.

Here is Karácsony’s Facebook post and some photos of the event:

Furthermore, in the evening, Budapest’s emblematic Fisherman’s Bastion shone in the colours of the Ukrainian national flag: blue and yellow. Here is a photo:

Momentum Movement demonstration in the evening

Hungary’s second greatest opposition party, the Momentum Movement, held its demonstration at the Russian embassy in Budapest. There were a lot of Ukrainian nationals taking part. Jaroszlava Hartányi, the chairwoman of the Budapest Ukrainian nationality self-government, said there would only be peace if the Russians left Ukraine. Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony added he felt ashamed when he travelled to Kyiv because of the Hungarian government. “You are saving Hungary’s honour”, he told the protesters, 24.hu wrote.

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Katalin Cseh, an MEP of Momentum, said there was another Hungary and PM Viktor Orbán did not dare to go to Ukraine after the outbreak of the war. Gábor Iványi, head of the Hungarian Evangelical Fellowship, said there would be no peace until PM Orbán and President Putin leave politics. Ferenc Gelencsér, the chairman of the Momentum Movement, highlighted that there would only be peace if the Russian soldiers left Ukraine.

HERE is a video of the demonstration.

Source: MTI, 24.hu