The Hungarian Fidesz Party and the Christian Democratic People’s Party (KDNP) compared the situation in Transcarpathia to a civil war. This is stated in a joint statement, quoted by InfoStart.
Parties criticized Ukraine for mass searches SBU in the charitable foundation of the Transcarpathian region after information about involvement of Hungarians in activities aimed at violating state sovereignty. In their opinion, the actions of the SBU were politically motivated, and the Ukrainian authorities wanted to intimidate people and put pressure on them.
Fidesz and KDNP deputies also said that Kiev has been “trampling on the rights of national minorities” for years. Ukraine’s actions reminded them of “the methods of the Stalinist totalitarian system.”
2 December Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Siyjarto also criticized Ukraine for massive searches of the SBU in the charitable foundation of the Transcarpathian region. He noted that Kiev adheres to the policy of intimidating Hungarians, and urged the countries NATO to be in solidarity with Hungary … On the same day it was reported that during the searches, law enforcement officers found a number of printed and electronic materials that popularize “Greater Hungary” and the creation of ethnic autonomy in Transcarpathia.
Relations between countries aggravated against the background of local elections in Transcarpathia. On October 26, Ukraine barred entry for two high-ranking Hungarian officials due to campaigning in the region. Officially, their names were not disclosed, according to sources, they are politician Istvan Grezha and Hungarian Secretary of State, responsible for national policy in the government, Arpad Janos Potapi.
On election day, Siyjarto called on Ukrainian Hungarians to vote for the party “Society of Hungarian Culture of Transcarpathia” and the current mayor of Beregovo, a representative of the Hungarian community Zoltan Babiak. As a result, this political force won the elections.