Diplomats thrown out in Ukraine-Hungary passport

[Hogg]

Ukraine and Hungary are expelling diplomats from each other's nations in a row over Budapest issuing Hungarian passports to Ukrainian citizens.

Ukraine gave a Hungarian consul three days to leave, after a video emerged allegedly showing the diplomat issuing Hungarian passports in western Ukraine.

In the footage, the recipients are asked to keep this secret. Ukraine does not allow dual citizenship.

In a tit-for-tat response, Hungary said it would expel a Ukrainian consul.

This is the latest in a series of spats between the two neighbouring countries.

Last year, Hungary protested over a law that limits the teaching of subjects in languages of Ukraine's ethnic minorities, including Hungarian.

More than 100,000 ethnic Hungarians live in Ukraine's western Transcarpathia region, and Budapest says the law limits their rights.

Kiev says the legislation complies fully with European norms on minority rights.

What are Kiev and Budapest accusing each other of?
In a statement, Ukraine's foreign ministry declared the Hungarian consul - who was not named - persona non grata due to "the activity incompatible with consular status" in Berehove, western Ukraine.

"In future, we expect Hungary to refrain from any unfriendly steps towards Ukraine and its officials from violating Ukrainian legislation," it said.

In response, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Ukraine's ambassador in Hungary was summoned and told that "a consul working at the Ukrainian embassy in Budapest would have to leave Hungary within 72 hours".

Mr Szijjarto also criticised a recent deployment of additional Ukrainian troops near the Hungarian border.

Hungary - a Nato and EU member - has in recent months been blocking Ukraine's attempts to integrate with both organisations.

Hungarians are the largest ethnic minority in Transcarpathia - a region that was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.