Pro-Putin right-wingers from EU behind arson attempt at Hungarians Union building in Zakarpattia – Governor

Law enforcers in Ukraine's western Zakarpattia region have identified those responsible for an arson attempt at office of the Hungarians Union building near the Consulate General of Hungary in Uzhgorod overnight Feb 4.

Speaking at a briefing attended by Hungarian diplomats and Hungarians Union leaders, Regional Governor Gennady Moskal said that the investigation revealed that the two perpetrators happened to be citizens of one of the EU members states. The official did not specify the state, only stating it is not Hungary.

Both are members of a right-wing radical organization that "professes" Putin's policies and whose members took part in hostilities in Donbas on the side of Russia-backed terrorist groups.

Read alsoKyiv, Budapest to find solution to unlock NATO-UA Commission ministerial-level meeting"The criminals are foreigners, they are two young guys from the right-wing radical organization of one of the EU countries, I can say at once that these are not Hungarian citizens. Members of this organization took part in hostilities in Donbas on the side of the militants… and they profess the ideology of pan-Slavism under the aegis of Russia, support Putin's policies and are in close contact with the Russian rightists led by [Eduard] Limonov ... Thus, we state that it was the third party that tried to rock the situation on interethnic grounds in Zakarpattia. The act is clearly in the interests of Russia. I responsibly declare that these attempts will not affect friendly relations between Ukrainians and Hungarians, as well as representatives of other ethnic groups living in Zakarpattia," Moskal said.

Read alsoU.S., NATO urge Hungary, Ukraine to settle language-law dispute – mediaHe noted that law enforcers had identified arsonists with the help of video records from CCTV cameras at the Uzhhorod border checkpoint with Slovakia. Now the passport data of the criminals and their places of stay in Ukraine are revealed, as well as the details of how they committed the crime.

The two men are expected to be put on an international wanted list after they are declared suspects in absentia.