President of Hungary revokes citizenship of 11-year-old Ukrainian boy and his family: here’s the explanation
Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok has revoked the citizenship of three individuals, believed to be members of the same Ukrainian family, due to violations of legal regulations, according to the official gazette Magyar Közlöny published Thursday evening.
According to HVG’s report, the revocation, initiated by Minister Gergely Gulyás, affects two adults born in 1988 (one in Mukachevo and the other in Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hometown) and an 11-year-old boy born in Nyíregyháza, Hungary, in 2013. The boy is set to turn 12 in August. All three share the same surname, suggesting they are family members.
According to the government, the individuals had acquired Hungarian citizenship by violating existing legal provisions. The exact nature of the infractions remains undisclosed.
Legal changes grant government broader powers over citizenship
The move comes in the wake of recent legislative changes in Hungary, which have expanded the government’s authority to suspend or revoke citizenships. In April, an amendment to Hungary’s Fundamental Law paved the way for suspending the Hungarian citizenship of dual nationals (those who also hold citizenship outside the European Union) if they are deemed a threat to public order or national security.
In June, the Hungarian Parliament passed a law allowing the Minister of Justice, currently Bence Tuzson, to temporarily suspend the citizenship of such individuals for up to ten years. The new rules were justified as measures to protect national sovereignty.
However, critics point out that the criteria for suspension or revocation remain vague. As of now, it is unclear what specific actions or circumstances might qualify someone as a “threat” under these provisions. There is also ambiguity around what “suspension” of citizenship means in practice, especially when it comes to children or the rights of those born in Hungary.
Political and legal controversy likely to grow
The case marks one of the first high-profile instances of citizenship revocation under President Sulyok, who took office in March 2024. Revoking a minor’s citizenship, especially one born on Hungarian soil, could spark legal and human rights debates both domestically and abroad.
For now, the fate of the affected family remains unknown, including whether they will be able to remain in Hungary or face deportation.
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