Both vehicles of the Ukrainian Oschadbank, seized on March 5, will be returned to Ukraine, however, the money and gold that were in them will remain in Hungary, the publication European Pravda reports, citing sources.
The authorities of Hungary will return both seized cash transport vehicles to the state bank of Ukraine, Oschadbank, however, the money and gold that were in them will not be returned to Kyiv, the Ukrainian publication European Pravda reported on Thursday, March 12, citing two sources familiar with the situation.
It is planned that the vehicles will be handed over on the same day, as informed by investigators from the Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration, who are conducting the investigation, to the lawyers of the Ukrainian side. The gold and money will remain in Hungary in accordance with the law passed this week, notes European Pravda. Nothing is known about the condition of the seized vehicles.
Oschadbank vehicles seized in Hungary
Two vehicles of Oschadbank, which contained 40 million dollars, 35 million euros, and nine kilograms of gold, were seized in Hungary on March 5. The Hungarian authorities initiated a criminal case on suspicion of money laundering. According to their information, the transportation of money and precious metals was allegedly carried out under the direction of a former general of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and several other individuals with military experience.
Oschadbank indicated that the Ukrainian cash transporters were transporting funds and valuables "within the framework and in execution" of an international agreement with the Austrian Raiffeisen Bank. Kyiv called for the release of the cash transporters and the return of the property.
The next day, seven detained cash transporters returned home. After that, Ukraine again demanded money and gold bars from Hungary. Foreign Minister Andrii Sibiga called the incident "an unprecedented act of state banditry and racketeering" and urged Ukraine's European partners to speak out on the matter. "This money does not belong to Hungary or its government; it belongs to the state bank of Ukraine, Oschadbank, and therefore to Ukrainian taxpayers," Sibiga stated.
