According to the president of KMKSZ, László Brenzovics, although some politicians incite contradictions, Transcarpathian Hungarians and Ukrainians live in peace with each other

Dániel Deme talked with the president of KMKSZ, László Brenzovics. Details from the interview:

Without the support of the Hungarian government, the Transcarpathian Hungarians would be on their own, László Brenzovics, president of the Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association (KMKSZ), emphasized to our newspaper. We also talked with the politician about the increasingly serious political attacks against Transcarpathian Hungarians and the fact that Brussels is turning a blind eye to violations in the country that wants to join the EU.

- Are the harmful effects of the Ukrainian language law already visible in the everyday life of the Hungarian minority, and if so, how?

"Of course they show." The part of the language law that applies, for example, to the service sector, where it is stipulated that customers can only be served in the state language, is already in force, but the same can be expected in all other areas, starting with healthcare. We have already seen an example where Hungarian kindergartens and schools in Transcarpathia were reported to the language protection ombudsman Tarasz Kreminy because they greeted teachers and children in Hungarian on social media. In any case, a solution should be found to this issue as well.

– Can you feel fear among the Hungarian-speaking people because of the transgressions of Ukrainian nationalism?

- In recent years, nationalist, or rather chauvinist manifestations have become almost commonplace. Just think of the march of Transcarpathian nationalist organizations on March 13, 2016, when they shouted on the streets of Ungvár that it was too late for Hungarians. Or to the extreme right-wing demonstration of force a year later, when smoke grenades were detonated in the streets of Beregszász and marchers in camouflage clothing marched.

But we could list more... Such actions had a negative effect on the Hungarian community living peacefully in Transcarpathia. Most recently, for example, the chairman of the Ternopol County Council incited against the Hungarians in a live broadcast of a national TV channel, who found himself saying that the Hungarian minority in Subcarpathia should be dealt with harshly because of the Hungarian-Russian gas contract. Our association filed a complaint in the matter, as we consider it impermissible for anyone to publicly incite against a community. We are citizens of Ukraine just like anyone else.

– Is the EU leadership willing to sacrifice the rights and security of the Transcarpathian Hungarians and fatten Ukrainian nationalism in order to keep Ukraine as a buffer zone between them and Russia?

- Ukraine is not a member of the European Union, it is only an associated country that has declared its intention to join. However, if someone wants to be a member of an elite club, then it is appropriate to observe and observe its rules. There should be no double standards, as they do now. At the moment, it is much more important for the Union to embrace the LGBTQ and similar communities than to support national minorities. The principle of "unity in diversity" is not applied to national minorities in Ukraine.

– How would you evaluate the Hungarian government's stance abroad so far in the interest of Transcarpathian Hungarians?

– We are grateful and indebted to the national government of Hungary for this consistent stance it has taken in recent years for the Transcarpathian Hungarians and to protect our rights. We consider it important that the matter is kept on the agenda on the international stage as well. Without this support, we would be completely on our own.

The full interview can be read here!

Source: magyarhirlap.hu/Photo: MH/Róbert Hegedüs