Károly Kontrát, Minister of State at the Ministry of Interior takes the view that action must be taken against untrue claims which tar the reputation of Hungary and the Hungarian authorities, and therefore, as he said, we also firmly reject the unfounded claims of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

At his press conference held on Thursday in Budapest, the Minister of State responded to the fact that the international human rights group HRW claimed in its report published on Wednesday that migrants are harassed in Hungary, are turned back to Serbia within the shortest possible time, and in some instances, the authorities resort to cruelty and violence, without deliberating their asylum requests.

Mr Kontrát pointed out: Hungary deserves praise, if anything, on account of its performance rendered in the protection of the Schengen border and refugee care. At the same time, he also stressed that Hungary is a democratic country where the rule of law prevails, where everyone is equal before the law, the laws equally apply to everyone, the laws must be observed by everyone, and a country which will not yield an inch on this in the future either.

He said: Hungary is making major efforts also at this point in time to protect the external borders of the EU, the southern borders and the Hungarian people, and is using primarily national resources for these efforts. At the same time, it also relies upon its international relations, and as part of this, Interior Minister Sándor Pintér and Defence Minister István Simicskó had talks with their Austrian counterparts in Röszke in order to coordinate their action against illegal immigration. The consultation of the Austrian Ministers in Hungary is also a recognition of the Hungarian efforts, he said. He added: Austria, too, has a vested interest in the successful protection of the Schengen border.

The Minister of State said: Hungary observes the Schengen regulations and the Geneva Convention. HRW takes Hungary to task on why we observe these regulations, and why we are not lenient towards illegal migrants. Legal entry is possible at the border crossing stations and in the transit zones, as is the submission of legitimate asylum requests, he pointed out.

As he said, Hungary is undertaking a major burden by spending HUF 140,000 monthly on care per migrant which is well in excess of the Hungarian minimum wage. For this sum of money, migrants receive, among others, accommodation, three meals a day, a personal hygiene package, medical care and, if necessary, medicines, he said. In Mr Kontrát’s view, the refugee care provided by Hungary passes the test: people in a similar situation do not receive more in any other country.

Mr Kontrát told the press: in 2015 Hungary spent HUF 5.4 billion on care provided for immigrants, while this year a sum of HUF 4.3 billion has already been spent on refugee care. In his view, this is a sum that „we have nothing to be ashamed of”.

The Minister of State also said that the Hungarian police have taken action against 17,790 illegal immigrants, and eight migrants filed complaints in four cases due to the suspected use of violence, but these complaints were found unfounded. Based on the new regulations, 664 people were detained. They complied with the instructions on a voluntary basis, without resistance, and were accompanied back to Hungarian territory, he explained.

Mr Kontrát further rejected the claim that migrants are physically assaulted in Hungary. As he said, they undergo a fair and humane procedure.

In answer to a question, he said: the quota referendum may be behind the series of criticisms.

(MTI)