Transcarpathia: A Scene of Cultural Genocide

Fear has tightened its grip in Transcarpathia, where the Baloha clan and local oligarchs are making life impossible for ethnic Hungarians, according to an American-Hungarian businessman hailing from Mukachevo. Disturbingly, Hungarian street signs in his home town are vandalized, statues symbolizing Hungarians heritage are toppled, and schools crucial to the Hungarian community are taken away. The situation in Kyiv doesn't seem to offer respite, either.

Munkács Turul Fotó: Bereczky Tamás

Viktor Baloha, the clan's head Photo: AFP/Sergei Supinsky

Imre Pakh, who sued the municipality led by Andriy Baloha for removing the Turul, could not find a single lawyer in the entire region who would take the legal action against the clan. Eventually, he hired a Ukrainian lawyer in Kharkiv near the Russian border, where the clan's name did not sound so formidable.

University department in coma

When it comes to the Hungarian language, despotism does not stop in Transcarpathia. For years now, not a single student has been admitted to the Hungarian language department at Kiev University.

The Hungarian language department at the Kyiv National Linguistic University was founded almost a decade ago with substantial financial support from two Transcarpathian-born Hungarians, Imre Pakh and Alexander Roth, aka Sandor Roth.

The Hungarian language department exists in theory, but in practice it does not function. It is, so to speak, in a comatose state. Despite interest in the Hungarian language, no new students have been admitted since the university saw the last group of enrolled students complete their  studies. The university failed to inform the two Hungarian founders of this, so they had to find out for themselves what had happened to the department.

Waiting out

Rakoczi Ferenc II school in Mukachevo Poto: Istvan Mirko

The situation at the Ferenc Rakoczi II Hungarian secondary school in Mukachevo seems to be resolved, but who knows for how long. After winning three lawsuits, Istvan Schink, the Hungarian school director who had been dismissed, was reinstated by the superintendent in Mukachevo. However, the Baloha clan installed two Ukrainian deputy directors to hold the reins. Just as a side remark, neither the removed Ukrainian headmistress, nor the two deputies speak a word of Hungarian. Where on earth would anyone find an English language instruction school whose director and deputy directors do not speak English? Istvan Schink's contract will expire in the summer. The rumor in town is that the dismissed headmistress, currently managing a kindergarten, will likely return then.

Cover photo: The Baloha clan had he statue of the Turul bird removed from the castle of Mukachevo (Photo: Tamas Bereczky)