{"id":101052,"date":"2024-08-19T11:17:20","date_gmt":"2024-08-19T08:17:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/101052\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"hungarys-fm-keeps-defending-simplified-entry-for-belarusians-russians","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/101052\/","title":{"rendered":"Hungary’s FM keeps defending simplified entry for Belarusians, Russians"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n P\u00e9ter Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3 \n <\/div>\n \n
\n (Hungary Today)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

August 19, Pozirk<\/em>. <\/strong>Budapest will thoroughly check the entry and stay of Belarusian and Russian nationals recently included in Hungary\u2019s National Card program, Hungarian Foreign Minister P\u00e9ter Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3 said on Facebook yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The expansion of the Hungarian National Card program announced in late July offers several advantages over work and business visas, including permanent residence after three years and citizenship after eight years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inclusion of Belarusians and Russians in the program does not threaten Schengen zone\u2019s security, Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3 stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The diplomat\u2019s statement is linked to concerns by Nordic and Baltic foreign ministers that they voiced in a letter to the European Union’s Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson last Friday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia keeps waging war against Ukraine amid hybrid attacks against EU countries, including an illegal migration crisis at the Belarusian-EU border, they noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3 responded by accusing the diplomats of involvement in a smear campaign against Hungary and being \u201cblinded by war propaganda.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hungary is the only EU member to maintain official contacts with the Belarusian government accused of human rights abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Budapest has aligned itself with the EU sanctions against Minsk, but Hungarian officials have repeatedly stated their opposition to that policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last September, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka accepted credentials from Hungary\u2019s Zita Bencsik, the only EU ambassador to present credentials to the Belarusian ruler after the disputed presidential election in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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