Overview
- Oschadbank said the two armored cars were handed back on March 12, while US$40 million, €35 million and nine kilograms of gold remain in Hungarian custody.
- Hungary’s parliament authorized the tax and customs authority to retain the assets for up to 60 days to investigate their origin, destination and any national security links.
- Hungarian minister János Lázár linked the hold to the halted Druzhba oil transit, saying the funds would stay in Hungary as Budapest waits for the pipeline to reopen.
- Seven Oschadbank employees were detained during the March 5–6 transfer from Austria to Ukraine, then expelled to Ukraine; the bank insists the transport was lawful and is pursuing legal remedies.
- Oschadbank reported partial return of staff belongings and documented equipment malfunctions after the handover, as a separate Hungarian delegation traveled to Kyiv to review the pipeline without Foreign Ministry clearance.