Hungarian MEP Viktória Ferenc from the ruling Fidesz party accused Ukrainian authorities of “illegally detaining” students and a lecturer from the Ferenc Rákóczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian College in Berehove. She demanded their immediate release, describing the November 4 event as an “abduction.” Kyiv firmly rejected this interpretation, stating the individuals were brought to the local Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center (TRCC) solely for routine verification of military registration data.
Ukraine: lawful administrative check, not detention
Ukrainian defense officials clarified that the visit to the Berehove TRCC was a standard legal procedure under national law. All citizens of conscription age — including students and educators — must regularly update their military data. Two people were released immediately after document checks, while others remained for processing. Authorities emphasized that temporary presence at the TRCC does not equate to arrest or deprivation of liberty.
Cultural organization echoed the allegations
The Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association (KMKSZ) publicly backed Ferenc’s statement, claiming the students’ freedom was “illegally restricted.” The group appealed to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, the Ombudsman, and the Zakarpattia Regional Military Administration to investigate the case. Ukrainian officials countered that these claims are misleading and lack factual basis, insisting the TRCC operates strictly within the law.
Kyiv warns against ethnic framing of internal procedures
Ukrainian authorities underlined that the Berehove case concerns Ukrainian citizens performing civic duties — not their ethnicity. Rules on conscription apply equally to all, and attempts to label the event as an “ethnic issue” risk harming interethnic trust in Zakarpattia. The Rákóczi II College continues to function within Ukraine’s legal framework and cooperates with government agencies.
Equal rights and obligations
Kyiv reaffirmed that Ukraine guarantees minority rights, including education in native languages, but these rights go hand in hand with equal obligations toward national defense. Officials called on foreign politicians to rely on verified documents and legal definitions rather than speculation, noting that “delivery for data clarification” is not synonymous with “detention.”
