Foreign Minister Summons Ukrainian Ambassador over Church Arson in Transcarpathia

“Hungarians, get out!” written on the walls of the church

Late Wednesday evening, a Greek Catholic church was set on fire in Transcarpathia (Western Ukraine), prompting the Ukrainian ambassador to Hungary to be summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Foreign Minister announced on Thursday in Budapest. The Hungarian government transferred the necessary funds for the restoration of the church on the same day.

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó informed the press that the perpetrators had sprayed anti-Hungarian slogans on the walls of the burned Greek Catholic church in Palagy Komarivci (Palágykomróc). “It is unacceptable, outrageous, shocking and disappointing that such brutal attacks against a national community can take place in a country that is supposedly seeking to join the European Union,” he said.

He pointed out that these anti-Hungarian attacks began ten years ago in the form of laws, when they began to systematically take away the community’s language rights. “Ten years ago, they began systematically using laws to restrict access to the Hungarian mother tongue. Ten years ago, they began systematically taking away the Hungarians’ opportunity to learn in their mother tongue. That is how these attacks began,” he emphasized.

“The Ukrainian state is responsible for all this. We have been asking them to stop for ten years.

For ten years, we have been pointing out in every international forum that Hungarians in Transcarpathia are under serious attack. It started with laws, continued with forced conscription, physical abuse, and church arson,”

the minister stressed.

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He condemned the fact that European political leaders are turning a blind eye, refusing to acknowledge that in Ukraine, which they want to fast-track into the European Union, “there are brutal, open attacks combined with physical intimidation against the Hungarian national community.”

“It is a rhetorical question: where are the NGOs, where are the human rights activists, where are the Soros organizations, and where are those who scrutinize every Hungarian legislative amendment? Why is Brussels silent at a time like this?” he asked.

He announced that he had given instructions for the amount necessary for the restoration to be transferred to the parish concerned later that day.

In response to Origo‘s inquiry, the church’s priest Péter Szkoropádszky said that it was mainly thanks to the fact that the sacristy door was quickly extinguished that the fire did not spread further. “The assessment of the damage caused has begun, and fortunately, at first glance, the incident does not appear to be serious, but in the interests of further investigation and examination, I cannot provide any further information,” added the Hungarian priest.

According to Manadiner‘s report,

the perpetrators left anti-Hungarian graffiti on the church wall: “Hungarians to the knife” and “Hungarians, get out!”

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also reacted to the crime on his social media page, sharing a picture of one of the slogans written on the church wall, next to which was written: “Hungarians to the knife.”

“Forced conscription, murder, church arson, incitement, intimidation. All this is happening to our people, the Hungarians, in Transcarpathia. We will not let this happen, you can count on us!” Viktor Orbán conveyed to the indigenous Hungarian community of Ukraine.

President Tamás Sulyok wrote on Facebook, “Transcarpathia is not alone! Hungary stands up for Hungarians.”

I am certain that the despicable attack on the Greek Catholic church in Palagy Komarivci and the incitement against Hungarians deeply outrages all people of good conscience, regardless of their nationality,”

wrote the head of state.

Tamás Sulyok believes such acts are unacceptable not only in Europe but anywhere in the world. “I call on the Ukrainian authorities to do everything in their power to prevent such acts from happening again!” the post reads.

The head of state asked the Hungarians of Transcarpathia to keep their faith and not forget that they are not alone. “Hungary will always stand by you!” he concluded his post.

The two most important Hungarian interest groups in Ukraine, the Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association (KMKSZ) and the Hungarian Democratic Union of Ukraine (UMDSZ), strongly condemn “the barbaric act of vandalism against the Greek Catholic church in the village of Palagy Komarivci in the district of Uzhgorod (Ungvár).” In their joint statement, they wrote that

they consider the “vandalism” committed on July 16, to be a provocation against the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia, and they demand that the perpetrators be brought to justice as soon as possible.

The two organizations announced that they are filing a complaint against unknown perpetrators and sending a letter to the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the county law enforcement agencies, asking the authorities to apprehend the perpetrators as soon as possible and hold them accountable in accordance with the law.

In addition, they draw the attention of the authorities to the fact that “in the current situation, the investigation of the case and operational action are of utmost importance,” while calling on the authorities to do everything possible to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Since then, the Transcarpathian police have released information about the case, stating that an unknown perpetrator set fire to the church in Palagy Komarivci. On July 16, at around 10 p.m., the police received a report of a fire at a church in the village of Palagy Komarivci, Uzhgorod district, reads the police website. During the initial investigation, officers found that an unidentified person had entered the church, set fire to the front door, and painted provocative graffiti on the facade of the building, aimed at inciting national and religious hatred, they wrote.

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Via MTI, Origo, Mandiner, zk.npu.gov.ua; Featured image: Telegram

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