The Ministry of Interior wishes to point out: Hungary observes the Schengen rules relating to border controls as well as the Geneva Convention, and is shocked to learn that Human Rights Watch expects the executive power to disregard the laws created by the Hungarian Parliament in harmony with the relevant European norms.

Hungary guarantees legal entry and the submission of legitimate asylum requests at the official border crossing stations as well as in the transit zones created for the purpose. Human Rights Watch is misconstruing the rules relating to the asylum proceedings out of obvious ignorance of the situation.

Hungary is taking part in the provision of care for asylum-seekers well beyond its economic means, while the European Union has abandoned one of its Member States in this respect. The Hungarian State spends HUF 140,000 monthly on average on the care provided for asylum-seekers.

During the course of 2016 eight migrants have submitted complaints in four cases due to physical assault in connection with the measures implemented by members of the Hungarian police force as part of the maintenance of law and order on the state borders (meanwhile, the police have taken action vis-a-vis 17,787 illegal border crossers). The investigations instituted with a view to clarifying these incidents established that the complaints were unfounded, but in the interest of excluding accusations of bias, these cases were forwarded to the competent prosecution services.

Following the entry into force of the law on the wider applicability of asylum proceedings conducted on the border on 5 July 2016, the police apprehended 655 persons, and accompanied them back to the temporary security border fence – the individuals in question complied with the instructions of the police on a voluntary basis, without resistance. Human Rights Watch is also wrong as regards the procedure itself: the illegal border crossers are taken back by the police to Hungarian territory.

Migrants are not being harassed on the borders of Hungary, and the large number of unaccompanied minors receive protection, health care and education. Hungary proceeds in a humane manner with those who are actually in need, and the people who are waiting at its borders and in its territory receive fair treatment. At the same time, Hungary expects migrants to observe the laws of the European Union and Hungary.