Hungary summons Ukrainian envoy after report of fatal beating

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BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Hungary summoned the Ukrainian ambassador on Thursday, after a report that a Hungarian-Ukrainian dual citizen was beaten to death during forced mobilisation, an allegation Ukraine’s army rejected, saying he died of a pulmonary embolism.

Hungary is a member of the European Union and NATO, which strongly back Ukraine in its war with invading Russian forces, but Prime Minister Viktor Orban is sceptical about Western military aid to Kyiv and retains cordial relations with Russia.

In May, the two countries expelled diplomats reciprocally and accused each other of spying. Shortly after, Hungary cancelled a meeting of minority rights experts from both countries.

Hungary’s foreign ministry said in a statement that it summoned Ukrainian ambassador Sandor Fegyir “after Ukrainian recruiting officers reportedly beat a Hungarian man during forced conscription in Transcarpathia, leading to his subsequent death from the injuries”.

Hungarian State Secretary Peter Sztáray demanded an explanation, the statement said.

The Hungarian pro-government website mandinder.hu reported the story on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources as saying he had died a few weeks after being beaten up. Reuters was not able to independently verify that report.

“We categorically reject the allegations of forced mobilization, ill-treatment or human rights violations by the Territorial Center of Recruitment and Social Support or other officials of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Ukrainian Land Forces said in a statement.

A forensic examination found that the man had died of a pulmonary embolism – a blood clot in the lungs – on July 6, “with no signs of injuries that could indicate violence”, they said.

(Reporting by Anita Komuves in Budapest and Anna Pruchnicka in Gdansk; Editing by Kevin Liffey)