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BBC News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Death of Ukrainian conscript prompts row with Hungary
The death of a 45-year-old ethnic Hungarian in Ukraine, weeks after he was conscripted into the Ukrainian army, has provoked a furious row between the Hungarian government and authorities in Sebestyen, a dual Ukrainian-Hungarian citizen, was beaten with iron bars after he was forcibly conscripted on 14 June, his brother and sister have told Hungarian from Berehove in western Ukraine, died there in a psychiatric hospital on 8 circumstances surrounding his death have been denied by the military, but his case has shone a light on forced conscription in Ukraine as the army seeks to defend the front lines from Russia in the face of heavy losses. "They took me to a forest with many other men and started beating me there," Sebestyen is quoted by Hungary's Mandiner news site as having told his brother and sister. "The beatings were mainly to the head and body. They said that if I didn't sign something, they would take me to "zero" [the front line]. It hurt so much, I couldn't move."On 10 July, Ukrainian ambassador Sandor Fegyir was summoned to the Hungarian Foreign Ministry in Budapest over the Minister Viktor Orban, a bitter critic of the Ukrainian government and war effort, posted on Facebook: "A Hungarian citizen was beaten to death in Ukraine. A few kilometres from the Hungarian border. A country where this can happen cannot be a member of the EU."Later the same day, the Ukrainian army published its full denial."According to the final report of the hospital, no physical injuries were found during the medical examination," the statement said. "We firmly reject any allegations of forced labour, inhuman treatment or human rights violations, whether by the Territorial Military Centres or other military officials."The army goes on to say that it would be open to a "transparent investigation under Ukrainian law". The incident has become the latest flashpoint in a war of words between Orban's government in Budapest and Volodymyr Zelensky's administration in May, a spy row sparked arrests in both countries and tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats. At the end of June, the Hungarian government published the results of its latest "national consultation", in which it presented eight reasons for not allowing Ukraine into the EU, and invited citizens to vote No. More than two million did so, according to the results, which were not independently of violence during forced conscription in Ukraine are not new. Ukrainian men are eligible for the army from the ages of 25 to 60, and most men from the age of 18 are barred from leaving the in new mobilisation drive as Russia advancesConscription squads send Ukrainian men into hidingWar of words over Ukrainian POWs handed to Hungary"I keep hearing from relatives of those taken by the military that they receive back their clothes covered in blood," a Hungarian woman in Transcarpathia told the BBC on condition of anonymity. "The situation has been getting worse since the start of the war, but it got particularly bad in the past two months."Often, she continued, medical certificates granting exemption from the draft are ignored by the soldiers - and the holders are bundled unceremoniously into vehicles and taken away. Thousands of dollars, "insane sums", were being demanded in exchange for being left in peace. There are also allegations that critics of the government, including journalists, are deliberately targeted for Dyba, 58, the editor of Zakarpattya Online, is now on hunger strike in military detention. He alleges he was taken because his articles investigating the construction of wind turbines in the Carpathian mountains upset the can take cases of unfair or violent conscription to the office of the Ukrainian ombudsman for human rights, Dmytro said recently that his office had received 3,500 complaints for human rights violations regarding conscription in 2024, and more than 2,000 complaints so far this cases have been brought against more than 50 recruiters, he right to conscientious objection was abolished in Ukraine when martial law was declared in February 2022 - the month Russia launched its full-scale the request of Ukraine's Constitutional Court, the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe issued an opinion on alternative service in Ukraine in March 2025."States have the positive obligation to set up a system of alternative service which must be separated from the military system, shall not be of a punitive nature and remain within reasonable time limits," it said.
Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Hungary summons Ukrainian envoy after report of fatal beating
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox BUDAPEST - Hungary summoned the Ukrainian ambassador on Thursday, after a report that a Hungarian-Ukrainian dual citizen was beaten to death during forced mobilisation, an allegation Ukraine's army rejected, saying he died of a pulmonary embolism. Hungary is a member of the European Union and NATO, which strongly back Ukraine in its war with invading Russian forces, but Prime Minister Viktor Orban is sceptical about Western military aid to Kyiv and retains cordial relations with Russia. In May, the two countries expelled diplomats reciprocally and accused each other of spying. Shortly after, Hungary cancelled a meeting of minority rights experts from both countries. Hungary's foreign ministry said in a statement that it summoned Ukrainian ambassador Sandor Fegyir "after Ukrainian recruiting officers reportedly beat a Hungarian man during forced conscription in Transcarpathia, leading to his subsequent death from the injuries". Hungarian State Secretary Peter Sztáray demanded an explanation, the statement said. The Hungarian pro-government website reported the story on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources as saying he had died a few weeks after being beaten up. Reuters was not able to independently verify that report. "We categorically reject the allegations of forced mobilization, ill-treatment or human rights violations by the Territorial Center of Recruitment and Social Support or other officials of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," Ukrainian Land Forces said in a statement. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business S'pore to launch new grant for companies, expand support for workers amid US tariff uncertainties Singapore Up to 90% of air-con units can be recycled, including greenhouse gas refrigerant Singapore KTPH trials 'smart diapers' for adult patients to prevent skin conditions, relieve burden on nurses Singapore Singaporean fugitive nabbed and charged with drug trafficking, may face death penalty Sport World Aquatics C'ships Singapore 2025 declared open by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam World 'Do some homework': 6 key exchanges between US Senator Duckworth and S'pore envoy nominee Sinha Multimedia 60 objects to mark SG60: Which is your favourite? Singapore CPF Board uses AI to improve call centre services, prioritise help for less tech-savvy users A forensic examination found that the man had died of a pulmonary embolism - a blood clot in the lungs - on July 6, "with no signs of injuries that could indicate violence", they said. REUTERS
