Within the past few days, István Petruska was named Deputy Governor to Anatoly Poloskov of Zakarpattia Oblast, which includes the Transcarpathian region, home to a large minority of local Hungarians. According to Petruska, he emerged as a candidate to serve alongside Poloskov given the Governor’s acknowledgement of necessary minority representation in a county populated by many native Hungarians. Poloskov chose Petruska after, presumably, discussing the matter with Ukraine’s President Volodimir Zelenszkij—who the Hungarian politician has actually met multiple times throughout his career.
Petruska’s position was approved by Kiev’s Ministers Cabinet and the President, further advancing the opportunity to smooth out relations between the two neighboring nations.
However, some view this appointment as merely symbolic, but Petruska sees a genuine opportunity to represent Hungarian interests—especially considering that no Hungarian politicians managed to get elected to the Transcarpathian Council. Petruska has already begun plans with Poloskov to improve upon the situation of both the local Hungarians and the entire region; the Hungarian politician sees many possibilities with January’s newly elected Ukrainian public administration.
Our paper asked Petruska about reclaiming minority rights with reference to Ukraine’s discriminatory 2017 education law which was followed by the language law-- both restricting the right of Hungarians to speak and use their mother tongue. Petruska responded by pointing out the different approach we must take now, as opposed to 30 years ago; he asserts that in response to Russian aggression, Ukrainian patriotism has intensified, heightening the national government’s value and necessitating the abilities of expert politicians. In our questioning we also cited the political scandals of the past few months (barring Hungarian politicians from entering Ukraine) as well as the armed raids of important political institutions and entities in Transcarpathia.
Petruska attributes these incidents to poor Hungarian minority politics: while one local Hungarian party is falling apart, the other is clouded with controversy, according to him. Petruska declined to comment on the Ukrainian secret service’s ongoing investigation of village Szürte’s local representatives for singing the Hungarian national anthem.
During the Coronavirus pandemic of the past year, Hungary donated medical supplies, including ventilators, to the people of Transcarpathia through the help and coordination of the Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA- Ökumenikus Segélyszervezet).
