Hungary probes Ukrainian gold convoy, detains transporters and examines police abuse

Hungarian authorities stopped two Ukrainian vans carrying state funds – including gold, euros and dollars – in the days before the national election. The money, worth about 27 billion forints, was seized by the Hungarian state and later returned to a Ukrainian bank by the tax authority.

The drivers and accompanying men were taken into custody, blindfolded, handcuffed and subjected to harsh treatment by police commandos. Witnesses recalled that a ballistic vest was ripped off while an officer stepped on a detainee’s head, that a guard knelt on a man’s back with full body weight and that the detainees were forced to lie on the ground for extended periods. Some were only allowed brief bathroom access and were examined at the counter‑terrorism centre (TEK).

Following the testimonies, the transporters’ lawyer filed a complaint, prompting an investigation by the Budapest Prosecutor’s Office for illegal detention and related crimes. Former TEK director Hajdu János has been charged with illegal imprisonment of the Ukrainian money carriers. The case has become a major diplomatic controversy for the Orbán government.