Hungary learned with dismay that Ukraine's law to enforce a fine on dual citizens, Zsuzsanna Répás, Deputy State Secretary for Hungarian Communities Abroad said on Thursday.

Deputy State Secretary Répás said that the planned measure was perplexing since it did not reflect the actual situation in Ukraine: many of Ukraine's neighbours to the West allowed dual citizenship to the small Ukrainian minority, compared to the country's eastern areas, where there are perhaps hundreds of thousands who possess Russian papers. The Ukrainian legislation has approved an amendment which allows the authorities to fine anyone who hides their dual citizenship and strengthens restrictions on it.

Open and behind-the-scenes Hungarian diplomatic steps had put an end to the earlier harassment of claimants of Hungarian citizenship, she added.

(MTI)