Hungarian Gov'nt Moves Embassy to Lviv from Kiev

The Hungarian government is temporarily relocating its embassy in Kiev to Lviv, Western Ukraine, due to the continuously deteriorating security situation, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced on Thursday.

According to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Minister told a meeting of Hungarian ambassadors that within the framework of a new foreign affairs operation, staff members of the Hungarian diplomatic mission and their families, as well as an Austrian family of three and a French citizen were evacuated from the Ukrainian capital.

There are 20 people in the group, including 13 diplomats and their families and three security personnel, he said, adding that all the participants are well and in constant contact.

The Minister pointed out that the embassy in Lviv will continue to operate with a reduced staff. "We will represent the interests of all Hungarian citizens in need of assistance in Ukraine who are in trouble", he said. He added that "as soon as security conditions allow, the embassy staff will return to Kiev."