Where is the usual anti-EU rhetoric? Hungary’s foreign ministry reacts cautiously to Serbian border guards harassing Hungarian students

As we reported yesterday, several Hungarian students were stopped and turned back at the Serbian border on Saturday while travelling to Novi Sad to attend a commemoration marking the first anniversary of last year’s train disaster. According to Serbian authorities, the Hungarian group represented a “national security threat” to the country, though they did not provide any explanation. The Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave a restrained response, saying that they had not received any formal complaints.

Three-hour ordeal, confiscated items, humiliating searches

Members of the Student Union (Hallgatói Szakszervezet, HASZ) set off for Novi Sad by car and bus to show solidarity with Serbian students at the event commemorating the train tragedy that killed 16 people last year. However, the Hungarian group faced serious obstacles at the border.

Serbian border guards detained several members for hours and confiscated various items such as walkie-talkies, stickers, and badges. “We were given a document stating that we pose a national security threat to the Serbian state,” said Anna Horváth, a member of HASZ.

Students also reported being subjected to humiliating treatment: two Hungarian girls were forced to strip down to their underwear during the border inspection, while officers noted down others’ phone numbers. Out of the 30 students, only 11 were ultimately allowed to enter Serbia — and none of those who had previously visited the country were permitted to cross.

• Outrageous: Serbian border control makes Hungarian students undress and wait for hours

The Hungarian foreign ministry acts only if a complaint is filed

Following the incident, 24.hu and other Hungarian outlets contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Ministry spokesman Máté Paczolay responded as follows: