Hungarian companies operating in Russia face discrimination in Ukraine — Foreign Minister
Peter Szijjarto mentioned large Hungarian companies such as the pharmaceutical companies Gedeon Richter and Egis, as well as the oil and gas company MOL, which has been affected by the discrimination
BUDAPEST, November 25. /TASS/. The Ukrainian authorities are putting obstacles in the way of some Hungarian companies who operate in their market just because these companies also do business with Russia. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Economic Relations of Hungary Peter Szijjarto commented on this while talking to reporters after a meeting of EU trade ministers in Brussels on Friday.
Szijjarto stressed that such actions are inadmissible, especially when Ukraine is receiving assistance from Hungary.
"We consider it unacceptable that Hungarian companies are not allowed to work, while Hungary is doing everything possible to support Ukraine," Szijjarto said.
He mentioned large Hungarian companies such as the pharmaceutical companies Gedeon Richter and Egis, as well as the oil and gas company MOL, which has been affected by the discrimination.
According to him, "some Richter and Egis products were banned on the Ukrainian market, and there were calls for a boycott of MOL."
"These companies operate absolutely legally, they did not violate any laws, their only 'sin' is that they are international companies and therefore are present in Russia," said Szijjarto, whose speech was broadcast on Hungarian television.
"We expect the European Union to take action together with the Ukrainian authorities to ensure that companies from EU member states are not deprived of the opportunity to conduct their business [in Ukraine]," the minister said.