Ukraine on arson attack on Hungarian culture center: "Inciting hatred"

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has deemed an arson attack on the building of the headquarters of the Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association (KMKSZ) in the town of Uzhgorod to be "a provocation aimed at inciting ethnic hatred."

"We strongly condemn such shameful acts of provocation," the Ukrainian diplomats said.

Read alsoPro-Putin right-wingers from EU behind arson attempt at Hungarians Union building in Zakarpattia – GovernorThe ministry also condemns "the use of such methods as attacks on the institutions of national minorities," which can be regarded as "a means of inciting ethnic hatred from outside."

In this regard, the diplomats said they would oppose any attempts to destabilize interethnic peace both in Zakarpattia region and throughout Ukraine.

"We will oppose any attempts to destabilize interethnic peace both in the region and in Ukraine as a whole," the diplomats added.

They also noted that "the Ukrainian competent authorities are working to find and punish those responsible."

As reported earlier, Uzhgorod police officers are establishing the circumstances of the fire in the building housing the office of the Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association. Criminal proceedings were initiated under Part 2 of Article 194 of the Criminal Code, i.e. intentional destruction or damage to property committed by arson, explosion or other generally dangerous methods, or property damage on an especially large scale.

According to Mukachevo.net citing law enforcement sources, an area of about 25 square meters of the building was burned out, and the fire was preceded by an explosion near the building of the Party of Hungarians of Ukraine. A Molotov cocktail was reportedly thrown into the window.

The Hungarian media, in turn, reported, citing own sources, that the first floor of the building had almost completely been burned out.