Hungarian Tax Authority Finds Legal Irregularities in Ukrainian Money Convoy Seizure

A 30‑page internal report by Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) concluded that multiple legal and procedural breaches occurred during the March 2023 operation against a Ukrainian state‑bank money convoy. The report says the appointment of NAV as the investigating authority by the Hungarian Prosecutor’s Office was made via an email, a method that does not meet statutory requirements, rendering the designation unlawful. It also flags questionable involvement of the Terrorism Prevention Center (TEK), improper use of handcuffs on the convoy’s personnel, and a lack of clear documentation justifying the seizure and retention of the cash and vehicles.

According to the NAV findings, the prosecution’s supporting documents were incomplete, and the legal basis for holding the Ukrainian assets in Hungary was not recorded for several days after the decision not to impound the cash. A government decree issued on March 9 later mandated that the Ukrainian assets remain in Hungary, but the report notes that the rationale for the interim custody was never documented. The NAV has ordered a full investigation into the case, and both the tax authority and the prosecutor’s office intend to make the results public, amid ongoing investigations into alleged illegal detention and other offenses.