The subject of Zakarpacia autonomy has been controversial both in Ukraine and Hungary for years. The region, inhabited by a large Hungarian minority, has become the subject of political disputes, and its position has remained unchanged since the dissolution of the USSR, despite periodic tensions.
Recent statements by Hungarian organization leader Mi Hazank, Laszlo Toroczkai, one more time sparked debate about the future of Zakarpacia and the rights of the Hungarian number in Ukraine.
The Toroczeki, the leader of the Movement of Our Homeland, openly demands a "minimum autonomy" for cultural Hungarians in the region, arguing this with historical developments and the request to defend the rights of this community. His position creates tension not only in Kiev, but besides in Budapest, where Viktor Orbán's government, despite hard relations with Ukraine, officially does not support open territorial claims against its neighbour.
Mi Hazank Mozgalom (The Movement of Our Homeland) is simply a Hungarian national-radical organization that was formed in 2018 as a consequence of a divided in Jobbik – another nationalist group. The party, led by Laszlo Toroczekia, adopted a more extremist line than its political predecessor, emphasizing anti-immigration, Eurosceptic and pro-national slogans.
Mi Hazank opposes the European Union, considering it as a structure limiting Hungary's sovereignty, and advocates strict protection of the "Hungarian national identity". On abroad policy issues, the organization expresses scepticism towards support for Ukraine, stressing the request to defend the rights of Hungarians surviving in Zakarpata. It does not regulation out border change if Ukraine weakens as a consequence of war.
In the 2022 parliamentary election, Mi Hazank won six seats in the 199-member Hungarian parliament, which ensured her presence in national politics, although the organization remains a marginal group compared to the dominant Fidesz Viktor Orbán.
Mi Hazank at the global forum operates in Europe of Sovereign Nations (Europe of Sovereign Nations, ESN), which includes the Bulgarian Revival, German AfD, Polish Nowa Hope. He besides maintains contacts with the Confederation of the Polish Crown.
The presence of the Hungarian number in Zakarpacie
Zakarpacie is simply a region of exceptional cultural and historical character. It is inhabited by about 150 000 Hungarians, who account for about 12% of the population of the Zakarpackie region. This is simply a remnant after the time erstwhile these areas belonged to historical Hungary before their failure as a consequence of the Treaty of Trianon in 1920. The Hungarian community is concentrated mainly in the border zone, in places specified as Berehowo, Uzhhorod or Mukachevo.
For decades, Hungarians in Zakarpacie faced various restrictions. At the time of the russian Union, assimilation policy and restrictions on the usage of Hungarian language weakened their national identity. After Ukraine gained independency in 1991 the situation improved – the number could establish schools and cultural institutions, and in the 1991 referendum more than 78% of the inhabitants of Zakarpacia advocated the autonomy of the region. However, in fresh years, Kiev has tightened the rules on state language, limiting its ability to teach in Hungarian, which has been faced with harsh criticism from Budapest.
The issue of number rights has become an crucial component of the tension between Ukraine and Hungary. Viktor Orbán's government repeatedly raised the subject of Zakarpacia internationally, accusing Ukraine of discrimination against cultural Hungarians. This dispute intensified after 2017, erstwhile Kiev introduced fresh regulations limiting the usage of Hungarian language in schools, which Hungary considered to be a violation of the rights of national minorities.
Treaty of Trianon and its consequences for Hungary
In order to realize why the issue of Zakarpacie is so crucial to Hungary, it is essential to go back to 1920, when, as a consequence of the Treaty of Trianon, the Kingdom of Hungary lost as much as 2 thirds of its territory to the recently created and enlarged states, including Czechoslovakia, Romania and Yugoslavia. After planet War II, it was incorporated into the USSR as part of the Ukrainian Socialist russian Republic.
For many Hungarians, Trianon is 1 of the most painful moments in the past of the nation. As a result, millions of Hungarians were outside their borders, losing their influence on their future. Hungarian nationalist parties, specified as Mi Hazank, usage this subject to fuel patriotic sentiments and undermine the current borders of Central Europe.
The Treaty of Trianon is simply a symbol of "historical injustice", which should be corrected. Mi Hazank in his postulates demands a revision of the borders or at least broad autonomy for Hungarians surviving outside the country. In this context, their demands for Zakarpacia fall within the broader communicative of the quest for revision of the Treaty.
Modern Hungary, although not officially undermining the border system, has an active policy to support its fellow countrymen abroad. Budapest offers cultural citizenship to Hungary in neighbouring countries, which creates tensions, especially in Ukraine, which opposes the issuance of passports to its citizens by another state.
Kiev's consequence to Mi Hazank leader's statements was decisive – representatives of the Ukrainian government described specified demands as “provokation” and “a threat to the safety of the state”. Ukrainian peculiar services monitor the actions of Hungarian nationalists, and any activists Mi Hazank say they received threats from Ukrainian nationalist groups.
