"We will not leave this unanswered": Hungarian Prime Minister on the arson of a Hungarian community church in Zakarpattia

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reported the arson attack on a Protestant Reformed church in the village of Palad-Komarivtsi, Zakarpattia region. According to him, unknown individuals left a message near the door reading «Hungarians to the knives,» which he interpreted as an act of intimidation against the Hungarian minority. He wrote about the incident on July 17 on his Facebook page, accompanied by a photo from the scene.

«Forced conscription, killings, church arsons, incitement, intimidation. All of this is happening to our Hungarians in Zakarpattia. We will not leave this unanswered — you can count on us!» Orbán stated.

According to the police, the incident occurred on July 16 around 10 p.m. An unknown perpetrator entered the church premises, set fire to the entrance door, and painted a message on the facade. Law enforcement described it as a provocation aimed at inciting national and religious hatred.

The case has been entered into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Part 1 of Article 161 (violation of citizens’ equality) and Part 2 of Article 194 (intentional damage to property). Investigative actions are ongoing, with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) also involved.

Earlier, it was reported that in the Rakhiv district of Zakarpattia, a court found a parishioner of the UOC guilty of «inciting interreligious hatred.» The charges were based on her Facebook comments expressing support for the canonical Church and condemning the persecution of clergy.