**Hungary Accuses Ukraine of “Information Operations” Amid Espionage Scandal**
In a brewing diplomatic row, Hungary’s European Affairs Minister Janos Boka has stated that it is difficult to lead constructive negotiations with Ukraine on its EU accession. The reason for this difficulty lies in an alleged espionage scandal between the two countries.
**The Spy Game**
According to recent reports, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network operating in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia Oblast, detaining two agents accused of espionage against the Ukrainian state. However, Hungary has denied these accusations as a smear campaign and instead claimed that it had exposed two Ukrainian spies operating on its territory.
**Tensions Rise**
The controversy has put further strain on an already fragile bilateral relationship between Ukraine and Hungary. The Hungarian government has been blocking the opening of accession negotiation clusters with Kyiv, citing concerns over national minority rights. Budapest has repeatedly accused Kyiv of discriminating against the Hungarian ethnic minority concentrated in southwestern Zakarpattia Oblast.
**Old Wounds**
At the heart of these disputes are language laws that require at least 70% of education above the fifth grade to be conducted in Ukrainian. Ukraine’s leadership denies any discrimination, while Hungary maintains that this is an attempt to suppress its cultural heritage. The Ukrainian government has long accused Budapest of undermining sovereignty through political interference and dual citizenship schemes.
**EU Intervenes**
As tensions escalate, the European Union is looking for ways to override Budapest if it vetoes Ukraine’s accession. The agenda of a recent meeting in Brussels includes stripping Hungary of its voting rights as the EU seeks to address these issues. This would be the eighth hearing regarding Hungary since the European Parliament triggered Article 7 procedures against the country in 2018.
**Consequences**
The possible consequences for Hungary are severe, as the EU Treaty allows for the suspension of Council voting rights if a member state consistently breaches founding principles. Independent journalism is also facing its own challenges, with many news outlets struggling to stay afloat due to financial pressures. The Kyiv Independent, however, remains committed to providing reliable information without paywalls or compromise.
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