Other than his diminutive comrade in the Kremlin, no nation’s leader is trying to harm Ukraine more than the prime minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban. According to Mr. Orban and his Fidesz Party, Ukraine wrongfully passed what has come to be known as the “Education Law.” This has resulted in threats by Mr. Orban to veto Ukraine’s potential membership in the European Union and NATO, but Mr. Orban’s recent activities show a far more dangerous course that potentially threatens not only Ukraine but Hungary, Europe, NATO and the United States.
Ukraine’s law on education establishes that all educational curricula taught in public schools after the sixth grade must be taught in the Ukrainian language. Prior to the sixth grade, any ethnic language may be utilized for education. Post-sixth grade, Hungarian is offered as an elective course in schools, and there is no prohibition for Hungarian, Russian, Romanian or other languages to be taught outside of school. However, this is not how Mr. Orban presents the matter to the world.
Mr. Orban describes the ethnic Hungarians living in the Zakarpattia region as “indigenous people” who are discriminated against by Ukraine’s government in Kyiv, and he demands protections afforded “indigenous people.”
This is a false issue since Hungarians living in Zakarpattia do not even fall within the U.N.’s and internationally recognized definitions of “indigenous people.” The length of time that an ethnic group has inhabited an area is not the test of being “indigenous.” The ethnic group must show there is no other country to go to and become citizens, e.g., the Crimean Tatars. This is obviously not the case with Hungary, which is but a stone’s throw across the border from Ukraine. Moreover, the Hungarians living in Zakarpattia travel to and from Hungary freely, and in many cases on a daily basis.
In discussing Ukraine’s education law with a member of the U.S. Congress who had visited Budapest and met with Mr. Orban, I pointed out that every nation has the right and obligation to educate its youth in the official language of that country in order to produce literate, educated young citizens who once mature assume their place in society and contribute to their country. Yet, Mr. Orban would have the taxpayers of Ukraine fund the education of ethnic Hungarians living in Ukraine, who would be illiterate in Ukrainian and unprepared to function in Ukraine. Upon completion of their secondary education in Hungarian, these Ukrainian citizens would be able to cross into Hungary and be welcomed with open arms as citizens of Hungary and immediately assume jobs and posts for the benefit of Hungary – all at Ukraine’s expense. Clearly, this is an untenable situation for any country.
Hungary’s interference in Ukraine’s affairs goes well beyond the issue of education. Last year, it was uncovered that Hungary’s consul in Berehove, Ukraine, was issuing Hungarian citizenship to Ukrainian citizens and coaching them to keep quiet about their dual citizenship. This is contrary to the European Union’s principles of territorial integrity, as well as Ukraine’s laws and Constitution. Ukraine rightfully responded by throwing the consul out of Ukraine. Hungary retaliated by throwing a Ukrainian diplomat out of Hungary.
This followed Mr. Orban’s decision to create the new post of “minister” responsible for the “development of Transcarpathia.” Apparently, Hungary lost the pages of the history book where Hungary ceded control over this predominantly Ukrainian region (ethnic Hungarians comprise approximately 10 percent of Zakarpattia) after losing World War I. We can save Hungary’s 1939 invasion of Carpatho-Ukraine, as a member of the Axis powers and with Hitler’s blessings, for another day.
Mr. Orban’s threats to veto Ukraine’s entry into NATO met a sharp rebuke last month from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. “The United States, Hungary, Slovakia and all NATO allies have a shared interest in a prosperous, stable and democratic Ukraine that is unfettered in its engagement with – and path to – eventual membership in NATO,” he stated.
Mr. Orban has also taken a turn for the worse when it comes to Russia and his patron, Vladimir Putin. It is difficult to imagine that a Hungarian PM, born seven years after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, would embrace his country’s oppressors. Yet, Mr. Orban is proceeding with Mr. Putin to have Russia construct a nuclear power plant that will provide one-half of Hungary’s electricity. Like Mr. Putin, Mr. Orban is the subject of much speculation as to the sources of his wealth – described publicly as a Putinesque paltry sum of $750 million, all allegedly accumulated through personal corruption and family nepotism.
When I visited Hungary last fall for three weeks, a young Hungarian in his mid-thirties had this to say: “The power plant is far worse than just putting the keys to our energy in the hands of Putin.” When asked how it could be worse, he added “Because we are borrowing $5 billion for the project from Russia as well.” He said many Hungarians were very concerned about this relationship.
But, when asked why Mr. Orban was overwhelmingly re-elected he replied, “Orban’s control of all media has people more afraid of Middle Eastern immigrants than of Russia.” Since Mr. Orban’s Fidesz Party controls Hungary’s Parliament, the Russian nuclear project is a foregone conclusion, notwithstanding strong opposition from the U.S. and France.
The European Parliament voted last year against Hungary’s Russo-centric government to initiate proceedings against Hungary for posing a “systematic threat” to democracy and the rule of law – an extraordinary action against a nation that was once lauded as a post-Communist society. The Euro-Parliament further declared, there was a “clear risk of serious breach” of European values by Hungary’s prime minister. This was a first step under EU’s Article 7 for Hungary to lose its voting rights in the European Union.
Judith Sargentini, the Dutch MEP who spearheaded the Article 7 drive, received a standing ovation upon passage and said, “The Hungarian people deserve better. They deserve freedom of speech, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice and equality, all of which are enshrined in the European treaties.” We can only hope that her voice is as loud when it comes to Ukraine’s future in the EU.
Bohdan Shandor is an attorney and the son of the late Dr. Vikentij Shandor, who served as the representative from Carpatho-Ukraine to the Czechoslovak government in Prague during the years leading up to World War II and authored the book, “Carpatho-Ukraine in the Twentieth Century: A Political and Legal History.” The younger Mr. Shandor assisted the author in the editing of the book’s manuscript.