Hungary's Szijjarto gets death threats letter ahead of Ukraine trip - media

This is reported by Index.

On January 29, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto is to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba and the head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak in Uzhhorod. The date of the Hungarian-Ukrainian meeting between the foreign ministers was finally announced on January 19. 

On the occasion, Szijjarto expressed hope that the meeting "will be able to successfully discuss the most important bilateral issues, first of all, the rights of the Hungarian national community in Zakarpattia," as well as the long-term future of relations between Ukraine and Hungary.

"As the meeting approached, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's representative office in Ukraine received an email written in Ukrainian in which Peter Szijjarto was threatened with death," Index notes.

"Hungarians, we hate your government, which continues to do everything to make us lose the war. Do you think that after the attacks on Ukraine, your minister will come to us so easily? We don't think so. On January 29, he will receive an explosive welcome. An armoured train will not save him. We recommend that you place an order with the funeral home so that they can start making a coffin for Szijjarto and make it fit his height. God is forgiving, but Ukrainians are not," the letter, addressed to the Foreign Ministry's offices in Ukraine, reads.

Hungarian Foreign Ministry's state secretary responds to the letter

Tamas Menczer wrote on his Facebook page that the threat does not prevent Péter Szijjarto from representing Hungary's interests, and they see and feel that the pressure is growing.

"Even a death threat does not prevent Peter Szijjarto from representing Hungarian interests! We see and feel the pressure growing. The Polish prime minister is attacking the position of the Hungarian peace party with unacceptable statements, and Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto is receiving threats," Tamas Menczer wrote. 

Reaction of Hungary's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Hungarian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mate Paczolay commented on the threatening letter. 

"We are interested in close cooperation with Ukraine, and the meeting on Monday (January 29 - ed.) also serves this purpose. The Ukrainian authorities have assured us that the most careful security measures will be taken during the visit to ensure the meeting in Uzhhorod is held safely," the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Paczolay added that Hungarian services are also in constant contact with the Ukrainian authorities and are taking the necessary security measures to ensure that "the Ukrainian-Hungarian meeting of the foreign ministers is related to real content and not otherwise."

• On January 11, it was reported that Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, would meet with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto in Uzhhorod.