Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó summoned Chargé d'Affaires of Ukraine because of the decision of the Mukachevo City Council to dismantle the hero of Hungarian mythology, the turul eagle, from the Palanka bastion and replace it with a trident.
Szijjarto called the actions of the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration "an unnecessary provocation." He also turned to its head, Viktor Mikita: "I'm sure he didn't realize it, his common sense and fair approach contrasts with what they have just done at the level of provocation."
According to the head of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, it does not matter who owns the decision to dismantle the turul. He stressed that the task of Hungary is to protect the Hungarians of Transcarpathia.
The dismantling of the turul was announced on Thursday 14 October. Hungarian National Policy Minister Arpad Potap called the decision "deeply shocking and outrageous." The Hungarian Democratic Union of Ukraine stated that it could contribute to inciting ethnic hatred.
Turul is the messenger of the gods in Hungarian mythology, who predicts key events in the history of the Hungarian people. In the first half of the 20th century, it was used by the Hungarian right-wing conservatives as their own symbol.