In Zakarpacie, in south-western Ukraine, in the historical Hungarian castle Palanka (Munkács vára), built in the 11th century, 1 day there was an event that passed almost unnoticed in European media. The sacred symbol of Hungary, the mystical Turul bird, was dismantled from the commemorative stela, set on the premises of the fortress, and the Ukrainian trizub was installed instead.
Hungarian rights to Zacarpacia
To realize what happened, a tiny historical digression. Zakarpacie is the only region of Ukraine that borders Hungary (more importantly, it is the only region of Ukraine that borders 4 abroad countries at the same time, outside Hungary are Poland, Romania and Slovakia). The closest interstate ties at regional level are with Hungary, as the territory of modern Zakarpacia with the major cities: Uzhgorod (Ungvár), Mukachev (Munkács) and Bereg Saski (Beregszász) was historically part of Hungary. The palace itself was erected in the 13th century for the King of Hungary Beli IV.
Dangerous precedent – dangerous provocations
Today, the Hungarians dream of recovering the lost lands not only the blogosphere. The media frequently reported, for example, that Budapest issued Hungarian passports to thousands of inhabitants of Zakarpacia. In fact, this circuit is treated as the first step towards rebuilding the large Hungary. Furthermore, Russia, after conducting referendums in the Donetsk, Lugansk, Khersonsk and Zaporosk regions, not only began the process of dismantling the Ukrainian state, but besides sent clear incentives to Ukrainian neighbours to carry out akin operations in territories inhabited by another national minorities.
At the same time, however, it is apparent that theoretically as it would be easy to start the hybrid business of Zakarpacia, so real, in the current geopolitical conditions it is simply a step completely unthinkable. So what if Apparently the Ukrainians themselves want to give a reason to confront. The removal of Turul is just specified a provocation, for it is simply a symbol of the importance of the Hungarians not only mystical as a totemic bird leading the Madzers to the conquest of the Panon Basin, but besides the caring spirit of Hungary, bringing the sword Francis II Cancer in his insurgent fight against the Habsburg rule. Turul is thus depicted on dozens of Hungarian heraldic signs, statues of this bird grow in all Hungarian city.
Hungary and Ukraine
The Brown Turul removed from the Mukachev castle is not a bird. The eagle has awesome sizes. Its wingspan is 4 metres and its weight reaches 850 kilograms. The dismantling of specified an object took quite a few effort, and by local Hungarians and many of their compatriots was perceived as an insult to national values, forcing retaliatory action. It must not be forgotten that Turul did not appear in Palance voluntarily, but on the contrary, in exchange for agreeing to set it in 2008 in Hungary in an act of equivalent goodwill, the monument was unveiled. The Terrace of Shevchenka, Under which Hungarians inactive lay flowers today. Hungary as a neighbour of Ukraine, for all these years actively helped Zacarpathia, both during devastating floods, and providing vaccines during the coronavirus pandemic. Moreover, which is seldom mentioned in Polish media, Hungary has accepted about 1 million Ukrainian refugees, with them inactive benefitting from full social benefits, which is wider than in many another EU countries.
chauvinist paranoia
The local press reports that the eagle demolition initiative has emerged from the environment of a powerful politician in Zakarpacie Victor Baloga, erstwhile Mr. Mukachev and then, among others, the Head of the Secretariat of the president of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko and Minister of Emergency Affairs of Ukraine. The problem is that it would not make sense, due to the fact that it is considered to be a policy of even... pro-Hungarian, which has caused it to take refuge in Hungary during the time erstwhile criminal proceedings were against it in Ukraine. The utmost Ukrainian chauvinists, everywhere looking at plots and the irredents have already accused Baloga of... participation in the Hungarian conspiracy and the deliberate dismantling of Turul to give Hungary an excuse to intervene and annex ZakarpaciaOh, my God! Paranoic sentiments and mistrust towards neighbours as well as their own minorities are growing, and this full cultural situation not only in Zakarpacie but besides in the Romanian-inhabited North Bukovina makes it peculiarly tense.
When nationalisms and revisionisms are raging, 1 spark of drugs is enough. Or a totemic bird carrying no swords anymore, but rifles...
Lidia Konecka
