- Title: 'This is outrageous procedure', lawyer of Ukrainians detained in Hungary says
- Date: 6th March 2026
- Summary: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (MARCH 6, 2026) (REUTERS) LAWYER OF DETAINED UKRAINIAN NATIONALS, DR LORANT HORVATH SPEAKING TO MEDIA OUTSIDE BUDAPEST HEADQUARTERS OF THE COUNTER-TERRORISM CENTRE (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) LAWYER OF DETAINED UKRAINIAN NATIONALS, DR LORANT HORVATH, SAYING: "The information is that they will be expelled from the country. So that is all, for the moment. We ar
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Hungary Ukraine Ukrainian citizens foreign minister
- Location: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
- City: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
- Country: Hungary
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Europe,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001163706032026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:A lawyer representing seven Ukrainian nationals detained in Hungary called the authorities' handling of the case an "outrageous procedure" on Friday (March 6) as he struggled to gain access to his clients at Budapest's Counter-Terrorism Centre headquarters.
Lorant Horvath told media outside the facility that the situation had been "total chaos."
Hungary said on Friday it had detained seven Ukrainians carrying around $82 million in cash and gold on suspicion of money laundering, as Kyiv accused Budapest of taking bank employees hostage amid a dispute over oil shipments.
Government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs said the seven detainees would be expelled from Hungary. It was not immediately clear what would happen to the money they were transporting.
Ukraine's ambassador to Hungary, Sandor Fegyir, went to the Budapest headquarters of the Counter-Terrorism Centre to try and meet with the detained Ukrainians, two Reuters witnesses said.
Horvath said he had been unable to contact them. Ambassador Fegyir, was also unable to meet the detainees.
"This is an outrageous procedure... the embassy, and indeed the consular service, must in all cases be allowed access to the accused," Horvath told Reuters. "Defence lawyers must also be allowed (access)."
The Hungarian Tax Authority's decision to have counter-terrorism forces swoop on two Ukrainian armoured vehicles transporting cash to Ukraine marks a dramatic escalation of tensions that have already resulted in Budapest blocking tens of billions of euros in European Union aid for Kyiv.
(Production: Krisztina Fenyo, Malgorzata Wojtunik) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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