Ethnic Tensions Rise in Ukraine as Hungarian Minority Faces Crackdown

Monument of the Verecke Pass

Ukraine is increasingly accused of sidelining its own citizens, with constitutional rights suspended by presidential decree and obligations emphasized instead. Amid the ongoing war with Russia, ethnic Hungarians in Transcarpathia (Ukraine) report deteriorating conditions, forced military conscription, and growing hostility, says László Brenzovics  president of the Party of Hungarians of Ukraine in an interview to magyarnemzet.hu.

During the 34th Bálványos Free Summer University, László Brenzovics called for the restoration of constitutional order and rule of law as the only path to national reconciliation.

László Brenzovics, president president of the Party of Hungarians of Ukraine (KMKSZ), who has been living in Hungary for four years after being forced out by Ukrainian authorities, shared concerns about the worsening situation.

“The war has devastated everyone, and the Hungarian community is no exception,” he said. “People are hopeless, with no end to the conflict in sight. Families are torn apart, and men are unable to cross the border due to restrictions, leaving communities fractured.”

The president described a hostile climate marked by anti-Hungarian sentiment, exacerbated since 2014. Incidents include the repeated vandalism of the Monument of the Verecke Pass, hate-fueled demonstrations, and even arson attacks. In one case, the Party of Hungarians of Ukraine  headquarters was set on fire and later bombed.

He also condemned the public listing of hundreds of ethnic Hungarians as “enemies of Ukraine” on the controversial Myrotvorets website (that publishes a running list, and sometimes personal information, of people who are considered by authors of the website to be “enemies of Ukraine”), calling it a gross violation of rights.

László Brenzovics Photo:
MTI/Veres Nándor

Commenting on the arson of a Greek Catholic church in Palagy Komarivci László Brenzovics dismissed accusations that the Hungarian government may have known about or been involved in the incident. He said Ukrainian police had prior intelligence that an attack might occur and had been monitoring the area.

When asked whether Ukraine should be allowed into the European Union before resolving its minority issues, president Brenzovics was clear:

“Ukraine has made commitments to protect minority rights. Those obligations have not been fulfilled. Constitutional order, legal guarantees, and human rights must be restored before any EU accession can be seriously considered.”

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Via magyarnemzet.hu; Featured image: Wikimedia