Hungary Pushes for EU Sanctions on Ukrainian Officials Over Alleged Death of Hungarian Citizen
Budapest demands accountability after Ukrainian draft officers allegedly beat a Hungarian man to death during forced conscription
Hungary has requested that the European Union impose sanctions on three Ukrainian officials in response to the death of a Hungarian citizen allegedly caused by Ukrainian draft officers. The Hungarian Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, announced the motion, which follows an incident where 45-year-old Jozsef Sebestyen was reportedly beaten to death by Ukrainian officials during a forced conscription raid.
Hungary’s relations with Ukraine have become increasingly tense since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022, with Budapest consistently critical of EU policies that support Ukraine. Tensions worsened further in recent weeks with accusations of espionage and disputes over the treatment of Hungary’s ethnic minority in Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region. In a post on social media, Szijjarto said that Hungary had taken steps to ensure that those responsible for Sebestyen’s death were added to the EU sanctions list.
Szijjarto also condemned the practices surrounding Ukraine’s military mobilisation, describing the situation as a "brutal manhunt" that involved beatings and torture of those unwilling to join the army. He highlighted what he called "systematic attacks" against the Hungarian community in Ukraine over the past decade, accusing the EU of ignoring these issues.
The incident occurred on July 6, when Sebestyen allegedly resisted being drafted and was beaten by Ukrainian military officers. While the Ukrainian Ground Forces claimed Sebestyen was legally mobilized, they later stated he had deserted, and died of a "pulmonary embolism" after being hospitalised. However, Hungarian media and local authorities insist that the injuries Sebestyen sustained from the beating led to his death.
Ukraine's mobilisation process has faced increasing criticism due to reports of violence and abuse during recruitment efforts, with videos circulating on social media documenting these acts. The Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner, Michael O’Flaherty, has also voiced concerns about torture and deaths related to the conscription process.
Russian officials have seized on these allegations, claiming that Ukraine is willing to sacrifice its own people in a relentless war against Russia, using its citizens as "cannon fodder." This further complicates Hungary’s already strained relationship with Ukraine and the EU’s stance on the conflict.
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