BUDAPEST, March 2 (Reuters) - Hungary summoned Kyiv's ambassador on Monday to protest at what the Budapest government said was the conscription of two ethnic Hungarians who should not have been called
Hungary Protests as Ukraine Conscripted Two Ethnic Hungarians for War
Hungary Summons Ukrainian Ambassador Over Conscription Dispute
Background of the Conscription Controversy
BUDAPEST, March 2 (Reuters) - Hungary summoned Kyiv's ambassador on Monday to protest at what the Budapest government said was the conscription of two ethnic Hungarians who should not have been called up for the war in neighbouring Ukraine.
The announcement adds to tensions between Budapest and Kyiv as Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government has made Russia's war on Ukraine a key topic in his campaign for the April 12 parliamentary election.
Allegations by Hungarian Officials
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto alleged that two Ukrainian citizens who were ethnic Hungarians had been wrongly conscripted.
Details of the Exemptions
Ethnic Hungarians are not automatically exempt from military service in Ukraine but Szijjarto said one of the men had a waiver from military duty while the other was suffering from mental issues. Reuters could not independently verify the assertions.
Hungary's Diplomatic Response
In a video posted on his Facebook page on Monday, he said the ambassador had been called to hear a "protest against the ongoing violent conscriptions and the ongoing open street-level manhunt".
Ukraine's Reaction and Political Context
Lack of Official Comment from Ukraine
Ukraine's foreign ministry and Ukraine's embassy in Hungary did not reply to emailed requests for comment.
Impact on Hungarian Politics
Facing an unusually strong challenger, Orban has cast the election as a stark choice of "war or peace", saying his opponents would drag Hungary into the war in Ukraine.
Broader Tensions Between Hungary and Ukraine
Hungary's Stance on the War and EU Relations
Unlike most other European Union members, Orban's Hungary maintains cordial ties with Moscow and refuses to send weapons to Ukraine, and says Kyiv can never join the EU.
The Druzhba Pipeline Dispute
The halt of oil flows on the Druzhba pipeline transporting Russian crude oil to Hungary and Slovakia through Ukraine has also added to tensions.
Conflicting Claims Over Pipeline Shutdown
Kyiv says a Russian attack damaged the pipeline, while Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accuse it of keeping the pipeline shut for political reasons.
(Reporting by Anita Komuves; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
