The Ukrainian consul expelled from the Consulate in Budapest, returned to Ukraine, as Mariana Betsa, the Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine, said, Hromadske reports.
Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin stated that the diplomat would be sent to Uzhhorod, as the local representation of the Ministry needs “enhancement.”
Reportedly, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared the Hungarian consul in Berehove, Zakarpattia region, persona non grata and obliged him to leave Ukraine within 72 hours. In response, Hungary decided to expel a Ukrainian consul in Budapest as a reaction to the similar measures of Kyiv.
Earlier, Ukrinfrom published a video where a few Ukrainians were receiving Hungarian passports and owed allegiance to Hungry in the Consulate in Berehove. The Hungarian diplomat recommended not to inform the Ukrainian authorities about receiving the new documents.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister said that the video was checked on the authenticity. If it is authentic, the Hungarian consul will be expelled from the country.
In his turn, Péter Szijjártó, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, claimed the attempts to intimidate the Transcarpathian Hungarians and threatened to make Ukraine’s integration more complicated.
Later it was also reported that for seven years, the Hungarian consulates in Berehove and Uzhhorod of Zakarpattia region have been granting Hungarian citizenship to local residents who are citizens of Ukraine.
Yuriy Lutsenko, Prosecutor General, claimed that Ukraine's Security Service investigates this case; however, the service denied this.
Tamás Menczer, Hungary’s Foreign Minister Spokesperson later reported that Hungary does not intend to withdraw its consul from Berehove due to the scandalous video about the issuance of Hungarian passports to the Ukrainians.
In its turn, Ukraine claimed that if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary does not withdraw its consul from Berehove, Ukraine will offer him to abandon the territory.
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