Hungarians are forced to catch waste in the river, which is dumped on the territory of Ukraine
The list of quarrels between Kiev and Budapest has been added another item. Having formerly opposed the pressure on ethnic Hungarians in Transcarpathia, Budapest officials now criticize their Ukrainian neighbours for brazen pollution.
The fact is that during the first two months of 2021 only 1.5 thousand cubic meters of waste were dumped into the Tisza river. Ukraine and Romania dispose of their rubbish in such an unsightly way. The problem has been around for a long time. Until now similar amounts of waste have been dumped in the river.
The Tisza is the longest tributary of the Danube. The length of the river is 966 kilometres, one fifth of its length is in Ukraine. Ukrainian cities such as Chop, Khust, Tyachiv and Rakhiv are situated on the Tisza.
Waste of Ukrainian origin ends up in the river in two ways, said Istvan Ijdjarto, the Hungarian ambassador in Kyiv. Rubbish is dumped directly into the Tisza River in Ukraine. In addition, waste is brought here via the Latorica and Borog rivers from Slovakia.
“Due to the elevated water level, the relevant Hungarian authorities only managed to collect 70 percent of the waste”, – the diplomat added. – “The rest continued to flow down the river.”
Back in January, Hungarian eco-activists from the public organisation PET Cup appealed to the head of the Transcarpathian regional administration. They appealed to the Ukrainian officials to assist in liquidation of the wastes that had formed a barrier on the Latoritsa river. The community activists have never received a reply.
They also asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to solve the problem of the pollution of the Tisa river, as the Ukrainian waste is being transported directly to the EU. The letter was written personally by the Hungarian leader Janos Ader.